Visits flood affected villages in Tarn Taran, announces to give 20, 000 liters of diesel for floor relief works
TARN TARAN: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today said it was shocking that while Punjabis were battling with flood waters on ‘bundhs ’ which were breaking across the State, chief minister Bhagwant Mann was holidaying with his family in Chennai.
The SAD president, who visited several villages in the grip of flood waters in this assembly constituency, said it was extremely distressing that Bhagwant Mann had abandoned the people of the State when they needed him most. “The chief minister should have been here in Punjab leading the relief operations himself. This is also one reason why the relief work is very slow with farmers complaining that Drainage department officials are doing nothing to drain out flood waters from their fields. Also no efforts were made to strengthen ‘bandhs’ in advance, especially when reports of sustained widespread rainfall in Himachal Pradesh were available with the State”.
Asserting that the SAD would not let down Punjabis in this hour of need, Mr Sukhbir Badal announced that he would immediately provide 20, 000 liters of diesel for flood relief works in this district. He also announced that the Youth Akali Dal (YAD) would take on the “sewa” of providing tractors and sand bags / earth to strengthen bundhs. “I also urge Akali workers to fan out in flood affected areas and provide humanitarian aid wherever necessary”.
Interacting with flood affected people at Munda and Gharka villages of Khadoor Sahib constituency, Mr Badal assured that once the SAD government was formed it would create concrete bandhs where needed to control flood waters. He also assured them that the senior leadership of the district as well as the SAD youth cadre would be available to them round the clock for any exigency.