Hooda visits waterlogged villages

A former CM and Congress MLA, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, visited several flood-affected villages in the district and interacted with residents. He took stock of waterlogged agricultural fields and residential localities.

He demanded that a girdawari be conducted at the earliest to assess the damage caused to the crops. He said the government should provide compensation on the basis of girdawari, and not portals, as they were not accessible to farmers of several flood-affected villages.

"The government uses satellite images to locate farm fires and penalise farmers. However, when it comes to providing relief, it makes them register their losses on portal," he said.

Hooda sought a compensation of Rs 60,000-70,000 per acre for the farmers and adequate compensation for residents whose houses and shops had been damaged.

He said the state government should claim a flood-relief package from the Centre.

Later, addressing a news conference, he remarked that the government had been sluggish in relief and rescue operations.