People will be compensated for flood losses: Chief Secy

During a visit to flood-hit areas in Amritsar’s Ajnala and Ramdass on Sunday, Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha announced that flood-affected people will be compensated for the losses.

The Ravi, which meanders through Ajnala and Ramdass before crossing over to Pakistan, is in full spate and its waters have entered several villages causing widespread damage to farms

and households.

Accompanied by a battery of officials, Sinha also reviewed the arrangements made at the relief centre at Chamyari village.

He said, “The state government stands with the people in this hour of crisis and will support them in every difficulty. Relief and rescue work is currently underway. After this, a special Girdawari will be conducted for compensation once the situation returns to normal and compensation for all kinds of losses will be provided.”

He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had formed a high-powered committee to manage the relief work, following which three senior officers had been sent to the district.

Sinha reached the flood-hit villages and took stock of the situation and interacted with affected residents. He also sought people’s views on the relief provided by the district administration in the villages so far. He also distributed aid to some residents and encouraged them to move to safer grounds.

After this, he held a meeting with the district administration and army officials, in which the strategy adopted was discussed.

Appreciating the rescue operations being carried by the Army, NDRF, police and civil administration, the Chief Secretary directed the officials to ensure comprehensive arrangements to ensure all possible assistance to the residents.

He said the help of volunteers must be availed.

On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney said the teams from Revenue, Health, Animal Husbandry, Water Resources, Rural Development and Panchayat and other departments were on constant vigil.

SSP Amritsar (Rural) Maninder Singh highlighted the arrangements made by the police.

Principal Secretary Water Resources Department Krishan Kumar, Administrative Secretary-level officers deployed in the district on behalf of the state government, including Kamal Kishore Yadav, Varan Roojam and Basant Garg, NDRF Deputy Commander Anil Talkutra, Colonel Robin Athney and other officers were also present.