Important to deal with challenges from natural disasters: Speaker

Speaking at the district-level Independence Day function in Una on Friday, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania called upon the people to take inspiration from great personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who made sacrifices for the cause of the nation.

The Speaker unfurled the national flag and took the salute from contingents of Himachal Police, Home Guards, NCC, NSS, Scouts and Guides.

Pathania said that in the present scenario, it is important to deal with the challenges arising from natural disasters and environmental imbalance.

He stressed that policies need to be formulated in the state to ensure protection of environment and stringent laws on construction of civil structures.

Pathania said in the last two-and-a-half years, heavy rains and floods have caused substantial damage in many parts of the state. He said during the last monsoon disasters, the state government had enhanced the compensation amount to the affected persons by 7 times than the existing norms despite financial constraints.

Pathania said under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Himachal Pradesh has emerged as the first state in the country to give the status of the ‘Children of the state’ to orphan children, adding that 6,000 such children have been given government protection through a legislation.