Two NDRF battalions to camp in Kangra, Shimla during monsoon

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, July 18

Two battalions of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will remain camp in the state during the monsoon season for immediate rescue operations in case of emergencies.

This was stated by Rajinder Singh Rana, Vice-Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Disaster Management Board, while addressing a press conference here today. He said the battalions would camp in two districts — Kangra and Shimla — so that they could reach sensitive zones at the earliest.

He said the state government had asked the Central Government for a permanent NDRF battalion in the state and hoped that the request would soon be met.

Rana said the government had also revised the relief manual of the state and now a compensation of Rs 4 lakh would be given to the family of a person killed in natural calamities. Earlier, the relief amount was Rs 2.5 lakh only. Relief to the injured and those who suffer a loss to their property and crops was also increased.

He said BJP leaders were misleading people about relief works done to restore roads and water supply schemes. The roads that were damaged last year had been made operational and over Rs 65 lakh was spent on constructing a crate wall at Beri village and Rs 4 crore was being spent on the construction of Spur near village Sachuhi.

Replying to his acceptance in the Congress fold, Rana said the Sujanpur Block Congress Committee was not a one-man show and he was acceptable to a majority of Congressmen and those who protested his presence in the Congress had every right to do so as the party believed in freedom of speech to all. He said he would try to solve their grievances too.

Rana said the Prime Minister had not fulfilled his promises and the people of the country had united now and they could not be fooled again.