State Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil flayed the ruling party for the recent floods in Bharuch, calling it a man-made disaster. He went to the extent of calling the relief package offered to the victims a joke.
“It is a grave mistake committed by the BJP government, which is responsible for such a disaster. Even the relief package declared by the state government is like a joke and not sufficient for the poor, the farmers and the traders,” said Gohil, who was on a visit to Bharuch to visit the flood-affected areas in the district.
“The district has recently witnessed a flood, which was not a natural but a man-made disaster. On December 17, the dam (Sardar Sarovar dam) was completely filled with water to appease the chief minister as he was to visit the dam,” he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
“…the purpose of building the dam was to prevent and save people residing downstream from flooding. The planning was made in such a way that the inflow of water from upstream can be monitored, and subsequently, the water could be discharged to prevent flooding in downstream areas.”
Calling the relief package below-par, he said it wasn’t enough to even take care of the basic needs of the victims. He said, “How can flood victims, who have lost their houses, merely manage with Rs 2,500? How can roadside cart-pullers, and traders start their business with Rs 5,000? Farmers have faced a great loss and the government has said that only those who own 2 acres of land will be compensated. What about the remaining farmers? How can cattle owners, whose animals have been swept away in the flood, get the postmortem done to get compensation.”
Also Read: Stay Heart-Healthy During Navratri: IMA’s Safety Guidelines for Garba Enthusiasts
