Haryana seeks financial assistance for flooded areas

Ambala (Haryana)/Chandigarh, July 19 (ANI): The Haryana Government on Monday urged the Centre to grant liberal financial assistance and raise the norms and rates of compensation for the flood- affected people in the state.

Haryana's senior administrative secretaries made the request during a meeting with a four-member high-powered Inter-Ministerial Central Team that visited flood-affected areas in Ambala today.

"The team was led by Joint Secretary (Home Affairs) R P Nath, who was accompanied by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation Director and Directorate of Wheat Development Ghaziabad Dr G K Chaudhary, Director in Ministry of Power R K Verma and Senior Regional Director in Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Dr Amarjeet Kaur," said an official spokesman in Chandigarh.

"The Central team was briefed about the damages and losses suffered in the recent foods," he added.

Haryana Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary Irrigation S S Dhillon said the rate of compensation was very low for the damage caused to houses and fields in the floods.

Joint Secretary (Home Affairs) R P Nath later addressing the media said there had been substantial loss due to the floods in the region and the administration has done significant work.

"The team would submit its detailed report of the losses caused due to unprecedented floods to the Central Government. The report would be the basis for financial assistance to the people," he added.

The team also visited the flood-affected areas of Dhulkot, Baldev Nagar, Rai Market road and Mochi Mandi Chowk, Goverdhan Nagar and Naggal, SYL and Narwana Branch near Ishmallpur.

The team later headed for Ismailabad, Thol, Shanti Nagar, Shahbad, Parakeet, Jyotisar, Bibipur Lake of district Kurukshetra and Dhand, Keorak and Kaithal Town, Guhla-Cheeka, Sheo-Majra and Bhatian of district Kaithal.

The Haryana Government is reported to have suffered a flood-related loss of about Rs 650 crores. (ANI)