Badal blames previous Cong Govt for inadequate flood relief norms

Chandigarh, Aug 30 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today blamed the previous Congress governement for shocking ''inadequate norms'' which come in the way of providing relief and compenation to flood victims of the state.

In a letter to Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, the Chief Minister categorically said that the norms fixed by the Congress Government for disbursement of Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) in 2005 were now becoming a hurdle in the way of relief to the flood victims.

Referring to Ms Bhattal's allegation about the non-utilisation of Rs 1646 crore of Central Relief fund meant for flood hit areas, Mr Badal said the issue was touched upon in detail by him, both in an official release and during interaction with the media.

Mr Badal said that he ''fully shared the concern shown by Ms Bhattal, with regard to the inadequacy of relief to the flood-hit farmers'', and pointed out that Punjab had already approached the government for revision of the norms in this regard.

The Chief Minister challenged the Leader of the Opposition to a debate on the entire gamut of the issue in the forthcoming session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha beginning September 4.

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