Funds allocated for flood control

The Chief Minister, who was presiding over a review meeting to take stock of the flood preparedness in the state, said that all drains should be cleared, canals desilted and embankments strengthened. Ditches should be dug in the beds of Ghaggar, Tangri and Shahbad-Markanda rivers to check the fast flow of water and use the flood water to recharge the ground water.

Haryana Chief Secretary Ram S. Verma said the government had provided about Rs 8 crore to the Irrigation Department for executing 94 flood protection schemes. Of these, 41 are in the Yamuna Canal System, 37 in the Bhakra Canal System, and 16 in lift canal area. The government has sanctioned Rs 8 lakh for repairing pumps and constructing and preparing ring-bunds, embankments and river protection works.

Verma said the government had also given Rs 25 lakh to the Public Health Department to make adequate arrangements to drain out rain water from urban areas. The pumps meant for this purpose should be in order and stocked at different places by making pump banks, he told public health officials.

The government also directed the Health Department to make arrangements for necessary medicines. It has already provided Rs 50 lakh for this purpose. An official spokesman said that an equal amount had been provided to the Animal Husbandry Department to protect the livestock in case of floods. The district-level authorities in the flood-prone areas have been provided with 73 out-boat motors OBMs, 237 boats, 32 trailers and 1106 life jackets.

In addition, the government has decided to set up flood control rooms at the district and state headquarters, which would be functional from July 1. Wireless sets have been provided at vulnerable places in the state.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, L. M. Jain, Financial Commissioner and Secretary Revenue, K. G. Verma, Financial Commissioner and Secretary Animal Husbandry, B. D. Dhalia, Commissioner and Secretary Irrigation, Urvashi Gulati and Commissioners of four divisions of Haryana.