Ajnala MLA and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Friday claimed that the Punjab Government has allocated Rs 600 crore for advance flood protection measures across the state, including the flood-prone Ajnala constituency, ahead of the monsoon season.
Interacting with residents of border villages, including Balarwal, Abadi Baba Gam Chukk Sahib, Abadi Harnam Singh and Vadda Fatehwal, which were severely affected by last year’s floods, Dhaliwal said the state government had directed all Deputy Commissioners and Drainage Department officials to ensure comprehensive flood preparedness.
He said the funds are being utilised to repair and strengthen the 23 breaches in the Ravi river embankment that occurred during last year’s floods in Ajnala, construct stone spurs, desilt rivers, drains and seasonal streams, strengthen flood protection infrastructure and deploy specialised machinery capable of operating in waterlogged areas.
Launching a political attack on the BJP, Dhaliwal termed the party’s decision to send delegations to flood-affected districts a “political drama”. Referring to Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon’s announcement of visits to flood-hit areas, he alleged that the BJP had failed to secure any meaningful financial assistance for Punjab from the Centre despite repeated promises.
Dhaliwal recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas last year and later announced a relief package of Rs 1,600 crore, although the Punjab Government had estimated losses at around Rs 13,000 crore. He alleged that even after more than a year, not a single rupee from the announced package had been released to the state for flood relief and rehabilitation.
He also referred to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit to flood-affected Ajnala last year, saying the minister had described the situation as “a catastrophe rather than a flood” and assured support after being presented with a memorandum highlighting infrastructure and crop losses estimated at Rs 2,000 crore. Dhaliwal alleged that those assurances had not translated into any concrete assistance.
The AAP leader urged the Punjab BJP leadership to press the Centre for the release of the pending Rs 1,600-crore flood relief package, the Rural Development Fund and other funds allegedly withheld from the state instead of organising what he described as symbolic political visits.
