Bhatt demands cash doles for 19000 flood-hit families in Vadodara

Vadodara, Sep 13 (UNI) Disputing the authority's claim that only 912 families in Vadodara city were eligible to get cash doles for being affected by recent floods, former BJP minister Nalin Bhatt today demanded immediate release of cash doles to about 19000 families claimed to have been affected due to the natural calamity.

Mr Bhatt, who recently resigned from the BJP after he was suspended from the party for raising a banner of revolt against party leadership on the issue, submitted a memorandum to the district collector listing a total of 18912 affected families of 178 areas in the city, who were allegedly deprived of the flood relief and cash doles.

The dissident leader also threatened to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Gujarat High Court next week if the government did not concede his demand for a fresh survey of the affected areas and provide the much needed cash doles to about 80,000 victims.

Criticising the government for insulting the people by distributing only Rs 14.85 lakh to 912 of about 20000 affected families, Mr Bhatt said he would soon call on the governor and the chief secretary of the state to apprise them of the real facts and figures.

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