TNR News Network
Shimla:
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has come down heavily on central ministers for what he termed as “political tourism” in the rain-ravaged regions of the state. Addressing mediapersons, Sukhu accused the Union ministers of using their visits to flood-affected areas for political mileage rather than announcing concrete relief measures.
The Chief Minister urged the central leadership to move beyond optics and take meaningful steps to help the state recover from the massive devastation caused by this year’s monsoon.
“Instead of making visits for publicity, they should announce special relief packages from their respective ministries,” Sukhu said. “It’s high time BJP leaders prevailed upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release a major special financial package for Himachal so that the affected families can be provided timely assistance.”
Highlights discrepancy between losses incurred, aid received
Highlighting the discrepancy between losses incurred and aid received, Sukhu pointed out that the state had received only Rs 400 crore as part of the Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) for 2023, despite suffering losses estimated at Rs 1,500 crore.
He further said that while Prime Minister Modi had announced Rs 1,500 crore during his recent visit, it remained unclear whether the assistance was part of a special relief package or was scheme-based.
The Chief Minister noted that the state government was working with limited resources to support affected families and restore essential infrastructure. “We are undertaking road repairs and restoring irrigation and water supply systems on a war footing,” he said.
Says Rs 20,000 crore losses suffered in 3 years
Comparing the current monsoon damage to previous years, Sukhu revealed that Himachal Pradesh had suffered losses amounting to Rs 20,000 crore over the past three years due to natural disasters.
“This year’s receding monsoon has wreaked havoc across the state, resulting in the loss of lives, damage to public infrastructure and destruction of private property due to heavy rain, flashfloods, cloudbursts and landslides,” he said. He attributed the scale of destruction to the worsening impacts of climate change.
Sukhu also conducted a review of the ground situation with Deputy Commissioners from the affected districts, directing them to take urgent measures to prevent further loss of life and property. “People living in unsafe buildings must be shifted to secure shelters immediately,” he instructed. He also ordered the restoration of damaged roads and water supply systems on priority and stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted access to essential commodities in disaster-hit areas.
