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Immediate relief ordered for flood-affected areas

Photo: Subir Roy

U.P. Chief Minister Mayawati in Lucknow on Thursday.

LUCKNOW: With the flood situation triggered off by widespread heavy rainfall in Uttar Pradesh deteriorating in the past 24 hours, Chief Minister Mayawati has directed officials to ensure prompt relief and rehabilitation in the affected areas.

Ms. Mayawati, who reviewed the flood situation on her return here from New Delhi on Wednesday night, told reporters on Thursday that necessary steps have been taken to help the marooned. She said officials have been told that there should be no slackness in relief and rehabilitation measures, adding that money has been made available to the flood-hit districts.

Ms. Mayawati asserted that funds would not be a problem for rehabilitation measures.

Stating that the Chief Secretary, Atul Kumar Gupta, made an aerial inspection of the flood-hit Gorakhpur, Sidhartnagar and Ballia districts on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said she had sent instructions for timely help to the affected people.

Following heavy rainfall, all the major rivers, including the Ganga, Ghagra, Gomti, Rapti, Sharda and Gandak, are in spate. Thirty-three districts have been identified as flood-affected and the State Government has sanctioned Rs.3 crore each to 11 sensitive districts and Rs.2 crore each to 22 districts. Seventeen companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary have been deployed in the 11 sensitive districts.

Release of water from the barrages situated in Nepal is also one of the main reasons for the annual floods in the State. This causes rivers like the Sharda, Ghagra Rapti and Gandak to swell causing a huge loss of life and property in the villages submerged by the swirling waters. Lakhimpur-Kheri, Bahraich, Balrampur, Sitapur, Maharajganj, Kushinagar and Gorakhpur have borne the brunt of the overflowing rivers this year. The flood protection machinery has been placed on high alert in these districts.

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