Govt failed to learn lessons from earlier disasters: BJP

Shimla, August 6

The BJP today lashed out at the state government for its failure to undertake preparedness to tackle natural calamities and seek the advice of experts to avert disasters.

Naina Devi MLA and state BJP spokesperson Randhir Sharma, while addressing a press conference here, accused the state government of failing to make proper preparations before the monsoon season.

“The government has failed to learn any lessons from last year’s devastation. Except holding an all-party meeting, the government did not consult experts as there has been a rise in cloudbursts and flashfloods due to glacial melting,” he said.

He said national and international experts should have been consulted to avert disasters or have early warning system to forewarn people. He added that the BJP was standing with the flood victims and would support the government in its endeavours to provide help to them.

Sharma said that the BJP at its own level was trying to help the victims. State president Rajeev Bindal and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had visited the cloudburst-affected areas. “We request the state government to expedite the relief and restoration works without any discrimination without any excuses,” he added.

The state lost several precious human lives and suffered damage to property last year but the Congress government failed to restore the damaged infrastrucure even after a year. There were still many victims of the last monsoon disaster, who had not got relief.

He said Rs 1,782 crore had been provided by the Centre under the NDRF and the SDRF, apart from allotting 11,000 houses to Himachal. “The Finance Minister has assured in Parliament that the Centre will provide all possible help to Himachal but it is for the state government to make projects and seek money,” he said.

Sharma said the Congress regime was continuing to take anti-people decisions like the withdrawal of power subsidy and excluding private hospitals from the ambit of the Himcare scheme. “If there are irregularities, the government can hold an inquiry and take action but closing treatment at private hospitals is not the solution,” he added. — TNS