Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar on Friday said that the financial help given by the Centre to disaster-affected Himachal Pradesh was not enough compared to the scale of destruction caused by this year’s monsoon.
Speaking at a press conference at his home, Shanta Kumar said the state had received its heaviest rainfall in the last 76 years between June and September.
Over 300 people lost their lives and property worth around Rs 5,000 crore was damaged, he added.
He called for the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked the Centre to provide bigger support for rehabilitation work across the state. Himachal has been badly hit by natural disasters, with landslides reported in Mandi, Kullu, Shimla, Kangra and Chamba.
He also urged Members of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh to meet the Prime Minister in Delhi and demand a special relief package. “In my 90 years of life, I have never witnessed such a devastating calamity,” Shanta Kumar said.
This monsoon, Himachal Pradesh has faced its worst-ever flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides, which damaged roads, bridges, houses, water supply schemes, power lines and telecom services. Shanta Kumar stressed that the Centre must come forward in this hour of crisis.
He said in view of such destruction, the state government should strictly enforce environmental laws. He said illegal mining, unchecked hill-cutting and deforestation must stop. Geological experts should also be consulted before giving approval to big projects like hydropower plants and highways.
Shanta Kumar further advised fiscal discipline. He said the state government should cut down on unnecessary spending and adopt austerity measures so that more funds can go towards helping the affected people.
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