* Visits flood-hit areas in Pargwal, Garkhal
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 13: Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, today directed the Jammu district administration to immediately construct a temporary embankment under SDRF to protect the remaining land and habitations from flood threat in Garhkal and Pargwal.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The Minister, who along with MLA Akhnoor, Mohan Lal Bhagat, MLA Jammu North, Sham Lal Sharma, and MLA Bahu, Vikram Singh Randhawa, visited the flood-affected areas of Garhkal and Pargwal to assess the widespread devastation caused by the breach of the Chenab embankment, assured the people that Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s Government is fully committed to their cause and a substantial relief package will be pursued at the Centre.
The Minister saluted the resilience of the border population, stating, “You have faced both cross-border shelling and natural calamities with unmatched courage. The Government of India stands firmly with you, and every effort will be made to ensure timely relief and rehabilitation.”
The Minister said the Union Government stands with the people of Jammu and Kashmir in this time of crisis. “Modi Government is cognizant of the sufferings of people due to the recent floods and the loss of life and property”, she added. The Minister informed that it is the endeavour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reach out to the victims of recent floods and as per his guidance, the Union Ministers are visiting each and every corner of the flood affected areas to understand the ground reality, assess the damages and provide relief and ensure rehabilitation of the affected people.
The Minister said she shares the pain and grief of the people and came to provide comfort and encourage them. She said that people have expectations and confidence in the Modi Government, and the Government will leave no stone unturned in providing timely relief and rehabilitation to the victims.
While appreciating the courage and grit of the people of Pargwal,Akhnoor that is an extreme border area, the Union Minister said that people of the region have to face the dual problem of cross-border shelling on the one hand and frequent floods due to the mighty Chenab river on the other. But, it is the determination of the people and their faith in the Government that they brave such challenges. She expressed her gratitude to the BSF jawans who are on duty round-the-clock, and are instrumental in bringing normalcy to the region despite such challenges.
The Minister informed that during her two-day visit to the flood-affected areas of Jammu region, she took stock of the damage caused in the areas of Sumbh Samba, Naibasti Jammu, and the extreme border areas of Pargwal in Akhnoor. She passed on necessary instructions to the administration for immediate relief and rehabilitation for the victims of the recent floods. She also interacted with the locals as well as with local leaders and administration and made site visits.
During visit, the Union MoS also interacted with the affected families, particularly women and farmers, who raised serious concerns over their destroyed farmlands and damaged houses. Farmers requested waiver of loans taken under the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, citing total crop loss. Former Sarpanch Kuldeep Singh also urged the Government to allot five-marla plots to displaced families at safer locations.
Addressing a large public gathering in Pargwal, MLA Mohan Lal Bhagat presented a detailed report highlighting the extent of damage in Akhnoor constituency – including the complete collapse of 70 houses, irreparable damage to 120 houses, destruction of nearly 4,000 acres of crops, and erosion of 600 acres of fertile land. He also raised the urgent issue of faulty ration card verification, which is causing cancellation of thousands of genuine ration cards based on outdated 2011 census data.
MLA Sham Lal Sharma, in his address, reiterated that the Modi Government has always stood by border residents and disaster-hit families and expressed confidence that the Centre will announce a major relief package soon.
The visit was also attended by ADC Sher Singh, Director Food Supplies Jammu Rifat Kohli, BJP district president, Kuldeep Sharma, Akhnoor in-charge, Vinay Gupta, DDC vice-chairman Suraj Singh, Rakesh Malhotra, former BDC chairperson, Nisha Devi, Mandal president, Gaurav Singh Manhas, Ram Swaroop Sharma, Pawan Singh, Sonia Verma, Savita Jamwal, Anil Sharma and other senior leaders and officials.
Earlier, the Minister visited Nai Basti here and assessed the damage caused by rain and floods.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
