Assembly urges Central Govt to declare rain devastation a national disaster

The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha today passed a resolution, urging Centre to declare the havoc wreaked by heavy rains in various parts of the state as a national disaster.

Moving the resolution under Rule 102 Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said in view of the entire state suffering massive devastation, the Assembly should urge Centre to extend financial assistance to Himachal and declare the natural calamity as a national disaster. The resolution was passed by voice vote in the presence of the opposition member who supported it. However, the BJP legislators resorted to sloganeering as Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi replied to the debate.

Replying to the debate, Negi condemned the BJP behaviour accusing them of trying to look for an opportunity to hit out at the government even during a disaster. “The BJP is trying to create an impression that people are starving only to mislead people for their narrow political ends,” he remarked amidst the ruckus.

Negi informed that today 38 people were evacuated from Chamba and at Saloon village, where all the houses have been washed away. There was no loss of life. “They (opposition) are anti-Himachal. Even in 2023 monsoons they had not supported the resolution adopted by this house, seeking special financial assistance to Himachal,” he said.

Negi accused the Centre of discriminating with Himachal and said that no additional money had been given by the Centre to deal with the extraordinary situation apart from the routine funding.

Speaker Kuldeep Pathania said the resolution moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister is important, urgent and in the state’s interest. “I am admitting the resolution for debate after relaxing the mandatory three days’ notice period for debate under Rule 102,” he said.

Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said the BJP will support the resolution as the entire state has been badly affected and they are equally concerned that timely help should reach flood-hit people and restoration work should be quick and effective. “Seeing the situation, there is an urgent need to requisition IAF helicopters to rescue people, especially facing medical problem in Lahaul Spiti as it will take very long to restore road connectivity,” he said.

Legislators from both ruling and opposition took part in the debate.

Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said the Centre must provide special financial assistance to Himachal to tackle the unprecedented situation due to rain disaster and expedite relief and restoration works. “There is an urgent need to develop a new development model which is sustainable and will help check the indiscriminate felling of trees and cutting of mountains,” he said.

Vikramaditya said rising above political considerations all the legislators ensure sustainable development along with long-term planning to mitigate impact of climate change and global warming.

Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh said the NHAI must be made accountable for landslides. “This is a manmade disaster and not the act of God as the rivers are flowing above the roads constructed by NHAI,” he said.

Others who took part in the debate included Barsar MLA ID Lakhanpal, Banjar MLA Surinder Shourie, Churah MLA Hans Raj, Bharmour MLA Janak Raj and Lahaul Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana.