Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh yesterday asked the Water Resources Department to work out a joint action plan to strengthen the embankment along the Indo-Pakistan border to avert flooding of nearby villages.
Responding to the chief minister’s request, the federal Home Ministry has decided to send a central team to assess the damage and loss caused by floods in the state.
Presiding over a high-level meeting to review the flood situation in Ferozepur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Ropar districts, the chief minister asked officials to ensure strengthening of the Tendiwala embankment in Ferozepur district along the Pakistan border.
Singh also directed the deputy commissioner of Ferozepur to keep National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on standby to meet any emergency arising out of the floods. According to the deputy commissioner, in 15 flood-affected villages in Makhu and Hussaniwala areas, at least 500 people have been evacuated and 630 have been given medical aid.
In addition, nearly 950 food packets have been distributed to the people, and arrangements have been made for supply of feed and fodder to the livestock.
The deputy commissioner told the meeting that the strengthening work at Tendiwala village was going on in full swing and the army was assisting in fixing the rift on the embankment.
Singh asked the deputy commissioner to keep a close tab on the ongoing strengthening work to ensure its completion at the earliest.
While reviewing the progress of relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken in Jalandhar, the chief minister was informed that 389 families with 1,690 members in the flood-hit villages have been taken care of.
At least 4,600 people have so far visited the medical camps in the flood-affected areas and 31 people have been evacuated to the nearby relief camps.
With the help of local residents and religious and social organisations, two major breaches in the Satluj river in Jalandhar district have been plugged at Mau Sahib and Meowal villages, while work on other breaches at Powahari Sailkiana in Phillaur and Jania Chahal in Shahkot was nearing completion.
On Kapurthala district, the chief minister was informed there was no loss of human life and cattle and the district administration had set up 20 village-wise flood relief teams.
Singh also expressed concern over the southwest monsoon getting reactivated in the region that may impact relief and rescue works and aggravate flood situation in the state.
“In view of resumption of rainfall, have directed all ministers in charge and DCs (deputy commissioners) to step up vigil,” he tweeted.
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