Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 10: National Panthers Party today staged a massive demonstration outside Raj Bhavan in protest against the criminal negligence and despicable apathy shown by the State Government in dealing with the crises like situation created in the wake of recent incessant rains and floods that have caused havoc in the State.
The protest demonstration was led by Harshdev Singh NPP chairman and MLA and included Balwant Singh Mankotia MLA and State president, Yash Paul Kundal MLA and State general secretary besides other senior leaders of the party.
Speaking on the occasion, Harshdev Singh expressed grave concern over the incessant rains that have wrought havoc in the State and claimed several lives besides causing damage to property, houses, water and power infrastructure besides standing crops. Describing the rains as unprecedented, he claimed that thousands of houses had collapsed in the state resulting in injuries to thousands of people, stranding of lakhs of people in floods besides loss of hundreds of precious lives. He regretted that collapse of residential houses had rendered several families houseless but requisite steps had not been taken by the Govt. to provide shelter to the affected families. He said that there was allround chaos and public cry which necessitated Govt. action, rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures on war footing.
He further deplored that the roads in several areas had been badly damaged affecting movement of vehicular traffic and making it impossible for the injured persons to be shifted to nearby hospitals. He called upon the State Government to immediately press into service additional helicopter facility so that the severely injured could be evacuated, stranded could be airlifted and timely medical aid provided to them. He further demanded provision of alternate accommodation to those rendered homeless and shelter less due to damage to their houses.
He called upon the concerned Deputy Commissioners and Tehsil administration to throw open the Panchayat Ghars, Community Halls, Dak Bunglows, Forest and other guest houses in the concerned villages so as to provide shelter to the affected families. He further called upon District administration to immediately provide tents in the difficult areas so as to save the people from further hardships and inconvenience in the face of tremendous hardships being faced by them. He sought directions to the tehsil and Block level officers to remain present in their respective areas to attend to public grievances and keep the District Administration informed of the situation.
He urged upon the Prime Minister to release a package of atleast Rs. 5,000 crore for the State to recreate the damaged infrastructure and to pay compensation to the affected families for loss of lives and property and for their rehabilitation. He further announced the conversion of all District Committees of Panthers Party as district Rehabilitation Party as District Rehabilitation Committees so as to assist the local administration in relief and rehabilitation measures.
Balwant Singh Mankotia expressed concern over the breakdown of water and power supply in various parts of the state besides damage to communication network. He said disruption of telephone facility had added to the woes of the public residing in remote areas. He sought announcement of a separate package for restoration of essential services in bad pocket and remote areas particularly Pancherri, Dudu Basantgarh, Lander Bhonag, Chenani, Samba, Bani Basholi etc.
Follow our WhatsApp channel