Minister seeks report on losses in 15 days

Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, August 25

Following the damage to the bundh at Tendiwala village due to heavy discharge of water from Pakistan, Cabinet Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi on Sunday visited the site to oversee the ongoing repair work.

Sodhi was accompanied by DC Chander Gaind and SSP Vivek S Soni.

After inspection, Sodhi said the state government would compensate every penny of the loss incurred by people due to floods. The minister said he had directed the DC to prepare a report on the total loss, including damage to houses, livestock and crops, within 15 days and submit it to the government.

Sodhi said the state government would stand by the people in this hour of crisis and would leave no stone unturned to help them. “It was the alertness of the district administration that the repair work on the damaged bundh was started immediately, else it could have wreaked havoc.” Sodhi also said the state had already sought a relief package of Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre and to push this demand, Capt Amarinder Singh would meet the officials soon.

The minister met the villagers and gave Rs 15,000 from his own pocket as compensation for fuel expenses spent by them to repair the embankment. He asked the district administration to pay the villagers for the other expenses as well, which were incurred by them while repairing the bundh.

Sodhi said the situation arrised due to heavy water discharge from Pakistan, which caused severe damage to the embankment. “There is no threat now as the embankment has been secured.”

Shells out Rs 15,000 from own pocket

• Cabinet Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi met Tendiwala villagers and gave Rs 15,000 from his own pocket as compensation for the fuel expenses spent by them to repair the damaged bundh.
• He asked the district administration to pay the villagers for other expenses as well, which were incurred by them while carrying out the repairs.