No govt institution to be built within 150 metres of rivers: CM

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that all government institutions would be constructed at least 150 metres away from rivers to prevent damage in the event of a disaster.

Sukhu said that it had been decided that no government construction would be allowed within 150 metres of rivers, nullahs and other water bodies to avoid damage in case of a disaster. “All government institutions will be constructed at a considerable distance from rivers so as to avoid expenditure that has to be made on site development,” he added. A committee would be constituted to look into all these aspects, including the study of the strata.

He said that a high-level committee had also been constituted to look into the issue of the relocation of people residing close to rivers so as to avoid loss of human lives and damage to public and private property. “We are regularly monitoring the situation in Mandi where three persons died in a cloudburst on Tuesday. The teams of the district administration, SDRF and the NDRF are working round the clock to extend rescue and relief to the affected people,” he added.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi and Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh on Tuesday criticised Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur for seeking an area-specific relief package in the wake of the rain disaster.

He said, “It is wrong to seek area-specific relief and the entire state should be treated equally. There should be no discrimination and selfishness and Jai Ram Thakur, who is a former Chief Minister and the present Leader of the Opposition, should know this.”

Vikramaditya said that Jai Ram Thakur was not just the leader of Seraj but of the entire state. “I have complete sympathy for the people of Seraj who have suffered huge damage but the Leader of the Opposition should have sought help for even other disaster-affected areas like Dharampur, Nachan, Banjar and Karsog. This is very unfortunate,” he added.