Centre assures full support for rain-hit families of state

Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti V Somanna on Saturday assured that both the Central and state governments were “fully committed” to providing relief to families affected by heavy rains and floods in Haryana.

The Minister visited the Hathnikund barrage and erosion-hit areas along the Yamuna in Yamunanagar district before holding a review meeting with district officials at the secretariat.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Somanna said this year’s monsoon had been “more intense than normal,” which led to a sharp rise in the water levels of the Yamuna and other rivers.

He stressed the need for long-term measures. “A plan is being made to build permanent security structures along the river banks to prevent the problem of erosion and to use advanced technologies for the management of the Yamuna,” he said.

Somanna added that a detailed study of the entire Yamuna would soon be undertaken and corrective steps implemented. Immediate action, he said, must include “constructing concrete or other durable structures in the eroded areas.”

He underlined the Centre’s support in strengthening disaster preparedness. “The emergency response system will be made more effective by empowering the state government and local administration,” he said.

The Minister also highlighted the government’s priority to ensure relief reaches every affected family. “Help will be ensured to reach every person affected by the flood and their problems will be solved by mobilising every possible resource,” he said.

Somanna informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assigned Union Ministers to monitor flood-affected regions. “In this connection, I have come to Yamunanagar to take stock of the damage caused by rainwater and to visit the areas where land erosion has occurred,” he said.

He further said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed to speed up flood relief work in the flood-affected areas in collaboration with the state governments. Providing immediate help in the flood-affected areas is the priority of the government.”