Punjab CM announces Rs.100 crore for flood hit areas of state

Rupnagar, August 19, 2019: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday announced Rs 100 Crore for emergency relief and rehabilitation measures in the flood-hit regions of the state and said a special Girdawari will be conducted as soon as the water level recedes to ensure adequate compensation for the affected farmers.
The Chief Minister made these announcements during a tour of the flood-affected areas of Rupnagar, where he evaluated the damage caused by the torrential rains of the past 72 hours and met the people who had suffered damage as a result of the flooding. Captain Amarinder expressed grief over the death of three persons due to roof collapse in Ludhiana district.
The Chief Minister later reviewed the overall flood situation in the state with senior officials. He was informed by the Chief Engineer Drainage that the overall situation in the rivers Beas and Ravi was under control though danger continued to lurk in areas adjacent to the Satluj river and further downstream, at Harike Headworks in Ferozepur. The flood releases from the Bakhra dam was above its maintainable level, flowing currently at 1681.23 feet, the meeting was informed.
The Chief Minister, who earlier travelled by road from Chandigarh to Rupnagar, described the situation as unprecedented, and assured of all possible assistance from his government to the local residents. He was briefed by the local officials on the damaged caused to the standing crops, houses, public installations and livestock due to heavy discharge of water from the catchment area of Bhakra dam.
Interacting with IIT students displaced due to heavy flooding on their campus, Captain Amarinder Singh directed the state administration to ensure their boarding and lodging arrangements in the Punjab Bhawan and Kissan Bhawan at Chandigarh till their return. Acceding to a request from the IIT Director, he asked his Chief Principal Secretary to work out a strategy to ensure foolproof and efficient drainage system to avert recurrence of flooding incidents in the campus.
Reviewing the ground situation at village Shampura after visiting Rupnagar Head Works, the Chief Minister met slum dwellers in the area and directed the district administration to extend all necessary help to the affected families. He also asked the deputy commissioner to keep a tab over the situation till the situation normalises.
The Chief Minister instructed the district officials to organize health camps in cooperation with the Health Department to prevent outbreak of any water borne diseases in the wake of the floods. He also asked the Animal Husbandry Department to provide veterinary health services to the needy, and to make necessary arrangements to ensure supply of feed and fodder.
Wading through a flooded road at village Khairabad, the Chief Minister freely intermingled with the people and patiently listened to their grievances and assured them of prompt redressal.
Earlier, on his arrival, the Deputy Commissioner apprised the Chief Minister that due to heavy downpour yesterday the total release at Ropar Head Works was 2,50,000 cusecs, in addition to unprecedented increase in flow in many rivulets like Swan Nadi (90,000 cusecs), Sirsa Nadi (60,000 cusecs), Budhki Nadi (20,000 cusecs). The DC said the district administration, with the help of Police, NDRF and NGOs, was able to rescue more than 600 families from 45 villages. There had been no reports of human life but there was significant loss of crops and cattle which was being assessed, he added.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Speaker Vidhan Sabha Rana KP Singh, Technical Education & Tourism Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, MP from Anandpur Sahib Manish Tewari, and MLA Rupnagar Amarjit Singh Sandoa, besides Chief Principal Secretary to CM Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to CM Tejveer Singh, Special Principal Secretary to CM Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, DC Rupnagar Sumit Jarangal, and SSP Rupnagar Swapan Sharma.

SARKARIA TAKES STOCK OF FLOOD LIKE SITUATION IN ROPAR AND PHILLAUR
Chandigarh, August 19: Punjab Water Resources Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria on Monday visited Ropar Head Works and Phillaur to assess the flood like situation due to incessant rain in the state.
During Ropar Head Works visit, Sarkaria directed officials that due to torrential rains, the water inflow has risen in the Sutlej for which continuous monitoring of changing situation has to be done. He said that water is being released in a planned manner from the head works. Today morning the water inflow into Sutlej slightly reduced. The Minister said that the maximum cumulative effect of all the release upstream was experienced at Ropar Barrage at 11.00 am yesterday and a peak outflow of 2,40,930 cusecs was recorded which is the second highest flow which has safely passed from Ropar Barrage. The Ropar administration has divided the district in five clusters for rescue and relief operations.
Subsequently, the Minister visited Bholewal village near Phillaur, where the swollen Sutlej river breached the Dhussi bundh and inundated fields of villages Bholewal, Meowal and Mau Sahib. Taking stock of the situation, the Minister instructed the authorities concerned to make all necessary arrangements to tackle the situation and also to ensure the safety of life and properties of the people.
Assuring all possible help, he said that those affected by flooding should be provided immediate relief. On receipt of information, immediately the action should be initiated and any laxity would not be tolerated in this regard. Interacting with the affected people, the Minister said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government is on action mode to tackle the situation and relief works is being done on the mission mode.
He was accompanied by Principal Secretary Water Resources Department Sarvjit Singh, Chief Engineer Canal Jagmohan Singh Mann, Chief Engineer Drainage Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, concerned SEs and other staff of Water Resources Department.

SEVERAL TRAINS AFFECTED ON FEROZEPUR-JALANDHAR SECTION
Feorzepur, August 19, 2019 Seven trains were cancelled, two trains were diverted and one other train was partially cancelled due to flow of Sutlej water flowing above the danger level at Bridge number 84 between Giddarpindi-Makhu (KM No. 61/2, 61/11) Ferozepur-Jalandhar section.
As per details available, Train numbers 74932, 74934, 54644, 54643, 74931 (all from Ferozepur Cantt. to Jalandhar), Train number 54638 (Jalandhar city to Hoshiarpur), 54637 (Hoshiarpur to Jalandhar city) and 74395 (Jalandhar city to Ferozepur Cantt) were cancelled while train number 19107 (Bhavnagar- Udhampur Janambhoomi Express) and 19226 (Jammu Tawi-Bathinda Express) were diverted via Ferozepur-Ludhiana-Jalandhar Cantt.
One other train 74933 (Lohian Khas to Ferozepur) was partially cancelled.
Meanwhile, DC Chander Gaind alongwith SSP Vivek Sheel Soni and other officials from drainage department inspected the Dhussi bandh and supervised the work of strengthening the bandh. It is pertinent to mention here that some fissures were observed in bandh near Village Laluwala following which it was repaired to prevent any breach.
DC Gaind said that three columns of army consisting 80 jawans per column have been deputed near Makhu, Zira and border area villages. (Inputs by Vikramditya Sharma)

SARKARIA VISITS DHUSSI BUNDH BREACH AT BHOLEWAL VILLAGE
Ludhiana, August 19, 2019: Punjab Water Resources Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria on Monday visited areas falls around Satluj river to assess the flood like situation has arisen due to incessant rain in the state.
Sarkaria visited Bholewal village near Phillaur, where the swollen Sutlej river breached the Dhussi bundh and inundated fields of villages Bholewal, Meowal, Mirapur and Mau Sahib. Taking stock of the situation, the Minister instructed the authorities concerned to make all necessary arrangements to tackle the situation and also to ensure the safety of life and properties of the people.
Sarkaria directed officials that due to continuous rains, the water inflow has risen in the Sutlej for which direct monitoring of changing situation has to be done. He said that water is being released in a planned manner from the headworks. Today morning the water inflow into Sutlej slightly reduced.
Assuring all possible help, he said that those affected by flooding should be provided immediate relief. On receipt of information, immediately the action should be initiated and any laxity would not be tolerated in this regard. Interacting with the affected people, the Minister said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government is on action mode to tackle the situation and relief works are being done on the mission mode.
He was accompanied by Principal Secretary Water Resources Department Sarvjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, Chief Engineer Canal Jagmohan Singh Mann, Chief Engineer Drainage Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, concerned SEs and other staff of Water Resources Department.
In the morning, Cabinet Minister for Food, Civil Supply and Consumers Affairs Bharat Bhushan Ashu along with Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal and other officials visited the affected areas and issued necessary instructions.