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Friday, Sep 01, 2006

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Sonia promises help to flood-hit people in Rajasthan

Special Correspondent

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to brief Manmohan Singh, Patil on the flood situation

— Photo: AP

QUICK RESPONSE: Congress president Sonia Gandhi interacts with flood victims during her visit to Barmer district in Rajasthan on Thursday.

Jaipur: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday promised all possible support to the flood-affected people of Rajasthan. Visiting the three worst-affected villages in Barmer district along with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and senior party functionaries Ms. Gandhi said she was surprised to see so much water in the middle of the Thar Desert.

After reaching Jodhpur from Delhi in the morning, she boarded a helicopter to visit Malva and Kavas, the two villages where the waters from the August 19-21 downpour still continued to submerge houses and settlements. She also visited village Bayatu before driving to Uttarlai airstrip to board the helicopter for Barmer Circuit House.

Congress general secretaries Mukul Wasnik and Ashok Gehlot, Pradesh Congress Committee president B.D. Kalla, former MP Sona Ram, Barmer Zilla Pramukh Madan Kaur and local leaders accompanied her. Among those who received her at Uttarlai included Manavendra Singh, BJP MP from Barmer.

Ms.Gandhi drove from one relief camp to another by road and interacted with the people, especially womenfolk who beseeched her to help them rebuild their houses and start life anew.

At Malva, predominantly a Muslim locality, womenfolk told Ms. Gandhi to get the village re-located. The former MLA, Amin Khan, sought a solatium of Rs.5 lakh to the families, which lost their members in the floods.

At the Circuit House, Ms. Gandhi held discussions with senior officials there.

She said she would talk to the Government at the Centre and try to extend all possible help to overcome the crisis.

Later talking to media persons, Mr. Mukherjee said he would brief Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the situation so that the Centre can decide on a relief package.

Mr. Mukherjee said various options, including building of a canal, were being considered for the draining out water from the villages. "We have got a few suggestions and the most feasible one seems to be draining out water through a canal," Mr. Mukherjee noted.

Both Ms.Gandhi and Mr.Mukherjee desisted from commenting on the relief work provided by the Rajasthan Government pointing out that they had not come to "play politics with a calamity." "This is not the time to play politics. This is the time for the Centre and the State Governments to work together for the rehabilitation of the victims," Mr. Mukherjee said.

Groups of protesters apparently led by BJP MLA from the Sheo constituency, Jalem Singh, and Barmer MLA Thaga Ram's son, shouted slogans against Ms. Gandhi asking her to go back. At one point Mr. Gehlot had to take Mr. Jalem Singh aside to quieten him. The police had to use mild force to disperse protesters at Kavas.

Relief package

The Rajasthan Cabinet on Thursday sanctioned a special relief package for the families living below poverty line (BPL) affected by floods in 12 districts, while accepting the number of BPL families at 17.36 lakhs across the State on the basis of the latest survey.

The Cabinet, in its meeting presided over by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, decided that an additional assistance of Rs. 50,000 would be given to each BPL family whose earning member had died in the floods. Besides, Rs. 25,000 will be paid to each BPL family for reconstruction of its damaged house.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Rathore and Relief Minister Kirorilal Meena, briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting here, said Rs. 27 crore would be spent on these measures, while relief would be provided in the repayment of short and medium term crop loans.

The State Government has allocated Rs. 2 crore to Barmer, Rs. 1 crore to Jaisalmer and Rs. 46 lakh to other flood-affected districts for being utilised on the discretion of the Collector for reconstruction of infrastructure and restoration of other amenities.

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