Varanasi (UP), Sep 5 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said the number of districts affected by floods in the state has come down from 45 a decade ago to 14 at present, where only limited waterlogging has been reported.
Addressing a programme after distributing relief material to flood-affected people in Varanasi, Adityanath said relief material was being distributed in the affected areas and district administrations, elected representatives and BJP workers were engaged in relief operations on a “war footing.” “Ten years ago, 40 to 45 districts were affected by floods during this season. Today, it is satisfying that there are only 14 districts where some water has arrived,” he said.
Adityanath claimed that the relief material being distributed to affected people was not available before 2017. “Earlier, people were given only dry bread. There was no milk for children, no hot food and no dry ration,” he said.
He said the arrangements were being made with funds sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the disaster relief fund. The chief minister said waterlogging in low-lying areas occurs every year when the Ganga’s water level rises, but measures taken over the past nine-and-a-half years have helped improve flood control.
Referring to development works in Varanasi, Adityanath said their results could be seen across the city under Modi’s guidance and leadership. “Today, Kashi has become a new Kashi,” he said, adding that its spiritual and cultural heritage was being preserved while modern infrastructure was being developed.
He cited the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, ghats, railway and bus stations, airport, road-widening projects, basic amenities and improved flood control as examples of the changes in Varanasi.
Water Resources Minister Swatantra Dev Singh, Labour and Employment Minister Anil Rajbhar, Minister of State for Stamps and Registration Ravindra Jaiswal, MLAs Dr Awdhesh Singh, Neelkanth Tiwari and Tribhuvan Ram, and Varanasi Mayor Ashok Tiwari were among those present. PTI AR CDN AMJ AMJ
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