Flood threat not over yet, says Selja

Congress’ Sirsa MP Kumari Selja stated that the threat of a flood situation is far from over and the administration should be prepared for disaster management.

The MP visited several flood-affected villages in Hisar district and expressed concern over the prevailing conditions. “The danger of floods is not yet over. The state government must conduct surveys of the affected areas, provide adequate compensation to farmers and other people and prepare permanent solutions to deal with such situations in the future,” she said.

Selja visited the villages of Bhatla, Chainot, Litani and Bithmara in the district, where she assessed the damage and interacted with villagers about the prevailing conditions. She said that it is the villagers who are putting sandbags to save their villages, whereas this responsibility should have been fulfilled by the administration.

She said that the administration has machinery and resources, which could have been used for speedy rescue work. “Just because the water level has receded a little, the authorities cannot sit idle. The threat still looms large due to continuous rainfall in the hills. Instead of leaving everything to villagers, the administration must step in as ensuring the safety of lives and property is its duty,” she said.

The Sirsa MP said that the government should have been better prepared before the monsoon, alleging that preparations remained only on paper. “Had timely cleaning of rivers, drains and canals been carried out, the situation would not have worsened to this extent,” she said, adding that the Opposition had long been urging the government to prioritise cleaning and desilting of canals, rivers and drains.

Selja said the need for a concrete action plan that specifies the volume of incoming water and ensures timely action accordingly to minimise losses. “Farmlands, houses and livestock have suffered extensive losses. In such circumstances, it is the government’s responsibility to provide immediate relief funds, rehabilitation assistance and essential supplies to affected families,” she said.