Congress forms committees for relief work in Punjab, raising of funds

The Congress has constituted parliamentary segment-wise committees, including MPs and MLAs as members, to raise funds and carry out relief work in flood-hit Punjab.

The party has also formulated a “three-month plan” to help farmers rebuild their lives before the rabi season in November, when the wheat crop is sown across the state, according to a leader.

Meanwhile, all party MPs have also been asked to mobilise funds from their discretionary quota for the relief and rehabilitation measures, with a focus on rebuilding houses and repairing of farm machinery.

A source said the party had already raised Rs 80 lakh in Ferozepur and Rs 60 lakh in Ludhiana for the rescue and relief measures.

This comes amid senior party leader Rahul Gandhi’s appeal to the state unit to make relief work a priority.

According to party sources, Gandhi is also expected to visit the state soon. All-India Congress Committee General Secretary in-charge for Punjab Bhupesh Baghel will visit the state on September 5.

Party leaders hit ground

In Chamakaur Sahib, former CM and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi was seen filling sand bags to plug a breach in a bundh along the Sutlej. State party chief Amrinder Raja Warring organised an exercise to remove filth and garbage that had accumulated in residential areas of Ludhiana due to overflowing Buddha Nullah.

He said the party has assessed that the real task begins after the floodwaters recedes. Machinery is required to remove the filth and slit that has accumulated in houses and fields.