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.
While highlighting that before 2017, funds meant for flood victims used to be siphoned off by the then Samajwadi Party government, Adityanath said crops damaged in the deluge were being surveyed and orders have been issued to provide compensation to affected farmers.
The chief minister said families losing members in disasters are provided Rs 4 lakh from the disaster relief fund within 24 hours. He added that if a poor person’s house is washed away or destroyed in a disaster, a house would be provided immediately under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana. Adityanath said his government does not discriminate and ensures that everyone gets their due rights.
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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