Chandigarh, August 23, 2019 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday deputed four ministers to oversee the relief operations in the flood-ravaged districts of Ropar, Jalandhar and Kapurthala, and directed the concerned officials to expedite the restoration of power supply in the affected areas.
While Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora have been tasked with monitoring the relief works in Ropar district, Revenue Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Food & Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu have been directed to oversee the operations in Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts.
The Chief Minister, who reviewed the relief and rescue operations, asked Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa as well as Chairman Powercom to visit the flood-hit areas and urgent steps to restore power supply.
Meanwhile, to help out the flood victims, all IPS Officers of the Punjab cadre have unanimously decided to contribute a day’s salary each to the CM Flood Relief Fund, according to DGP Dinkar Gupta.
Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Kapurthala informed the Chief Minister that out of the 82 flood affected villages in the district, 20 were inundated. A dedicated team comprising a MBBS doctor, along with staff and requisite medical kits, had been pressed into service in each of these villages.
In addition, a veterinary doctor with staff, a food inspector, full dry ration for three days and a police constable had also been deputed in these villages. Apart from providing adequate medical assistance to the people and veterinary care to the livestock, 2 kg feed per cattle per day was being distributed for livestock, in addition to adequate medical assistance to the people and livestock.
The Chief Minister was apprised by the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar that the drainage wing of the Water Resources Department had been asked to complete the work of plugging the 350 feet wide breach at village Meowal in Phillaur Sub Division by tomorrow. He also told CM that volunteers and MGNREGA workers were engaged in filling sand bags for plugging of this breach.
Captain Amarinder Singh was further informed by the Deputy Commissioner Ropar that the relief and flood protection works in affected areas were going on in full swing as the water level was gradually receding.
Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh visited the flood hit areas and interacted with the local residents during the day. He asked the Deputy Commissioner Ropar to ensure adequate supply of feed and fodder for the cattle, besides providing the best medical assistance to the people in the region.
