Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress have accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of the state that it is “unaware” with people’s problems and termed it “severe administrative failure” on the issue of rising water level in rivers in Punjab.
SAD demanded the government led by Bhagwant Mann to start flood relief measures immediately and attracted attention to the submerged villages and crops situated on the banks of Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers.
In a statement released on Monday, senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said that Beas and Sutlej rivers have caused havoc in Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts. He said that more than 25 villages in Sultanpur Lodhi and surrounding areas have been submerged, while more than 20 villages in Mand are in flood.
The leader of the Akali Dal said that the crops in the fields in Gurdaspur have been submerged due to release of water from the Ujh River and Ranjit Sagar Dam. He also informed that the villages of Dera Baba Nanak region have also been affected. He said that the Ghaggar river is also in spate due to which the areas of Patiala have been affected and the flood water has entered the town of Sardulgarh.
Cheema said that there are flood -like conditions in Hoshiarpur, Talwara and Hajipur due to release of water from Pong and Bhakra dams. Demanding immediate relief measures, he alleged, “The AAP government seems oblivious to the serious situation in the state.”
Cheema also demanded preliminary Girdawari (assessing damage) and the loss of paddy crop as well as giving appropriate compensation to farmers for the damage done to milch animals and houses.
Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa, while attacking the ‘AAP’ government, accused him of “gross administrative failure and careless attitude towards the growing human disaster”.
The Congress leader said that the situation in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran is “out of control”, where the rising water level of the rivers and the broken embankment threatens people’s lives, houses and crops.
Bajwa alleged, “Flood affected villagers have been released on their condition. Rescue efforts are negligible. Instead of taking quick and decisive action, the administration is missing due to which the troubled local people are forced to deal with flood waters alone. ‘
Due to heavy rains in the catchment areas, the situation in the villages of Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts has remained serious due to rising water levels in Beas and Sutlej which are situated on the banks of these rivers.
