aap-seeks-20-000-crore-relief-package-for-punjab

Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab unit president Aman Arora has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a Rs 20,000-crore relief package for the flood-affected state during his visit on Tuesday.

 

Reiterating the state government’s demand for release of pending dues of Rs 60,000 crore, Arora asked, “If you can send relief to Taliban in Afghanistan, why not to Punjab?”

 

Highlighting the widespread devastation caused by floods in the state, Arora said standing crops across 4.3 lakh acres have been destroyed and 3.6 lakh livestock lost. Besides, he said, hundreds of houses have either collapsed or severely damaged.

 

“The farmers have also suffered collateral damage as many of them whose fields are inundated will not be able to sow the next crop because of silt and sand deposits. In coming days, as flood waters recede, there is a danger of outbreak of diseases. I sincerely hope the PM understands the pain of Punjabis and provides them relief,” said the AAP leader.

 

Terming Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s recent visit to Punjab as “disaster tourism”, Arora said, “He posed for pictures, wading in knee-deep water. But strangely, not a single dime of relief was announced for the state. In the past 25 days, BJP state leaders have issued lame statements, but failed to convey the destruction in Punjab to their party’s central leadership.”

 

Appealing to the PM to show benevolence towards Punjab, Arora said, “After you go, Punjabis should not feel alienated by you and talk of your benevolence for corporate houses, but doing nothing for Punjab.”

 

‘₹780-crore damage to health infrastructure’

 

Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, on Monday, pegged the damage to health infrastructure in the state at Rs 780 crore, according to initial estimates. He has written to Union Health Minister J P Nadda in this regard.

 

Asking the Central government to announce a relief package for the state, Dr Balbir said, “Health equipment and medicines worth Rs 130 crore have been damaged. Severe damage has been caused to 1,280 dispensaries and health and wellness centres, including 101 community health centres and 31 subdivisional hospitals. He said the Health Department is providing medical aid in flood-hit villages of the state with the assistance of several NGOs.