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Monday, Jul 26, 2004

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Government should step up relief work in Bihar: Vajpayee

By K. Balchand

PATNA, JULY 25. The former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today made a fervent appeal for the need to rise above politics and work to a man to ameliorate the miseries of the 1.25-crore people affected by floods in Bihar.

Mr. Vajpayee made an aerial survey of about half-a-dozen affected districts of the State and interacted with the people.

He said the need of the hour was for all concerned — the Government, non-governmental organisations and international bodies — to come forward and work for the rehabilitation of the homeless people.

`New challenge'

With the waters receding, the new challenge before the Centre and the State Governments would be to take up restoration work. He suggested that the Government take up a scheme for the reconstruction of houses, which would not only provide the people with new shelter but also generate employment opportunities.

Mr. Vajpayee declined to comment on whether the relief operations were up to the mark saying he had not assessed the whole situation. "What is necessary is that the Government should step up operations for better results."

He hoped the Government would step in to check the sudden spurt in the prices of essential commodities in the affected districts and underlined the urgency to gear the health department to prevent the outbreak of epidemics.

Reiterating the need for linking rivers as a solution to avoid floods, he hoped the Centre would give importance to the project. It should also pursue its initiative with Kathmandu on construction of dams as a permanent solution to floods, he added.

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