Himachal Pradesh Faces Rs 900 Crore Loss Due to Heavy Rainfall and Floods
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Responds
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 9: Recent heavy rainfall and floods in Himachal Pradesh have caused a devastating loss of Rs 900 crore to the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH), Public Works Department (PWD), and the state’s road infrastructure. The state government has put all districts on high alert for rain and expected natural disasters until September.
As rescue and search operations continue, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed concern over the lack of immediate assistance from the Union government, though future help has been assured. He stated, “The rescue and search operation will continue as we have sentiments that people want to see the body of their lost ones, so we shall continue operations.” He added that 33 people are still missing.
With the government on high alert until September, the Chief Minister assured that officials and deputy commissioners are holding daily meetings to manage the situation. He criticized the previous government for its lax policies, particularly regarding water usage by large hotels. “The previous government was very insensitive, that they used not to charge big hotels any money for water bills,” Sukhu remarked. “We have made it mandatory that we shall charge per kiloliter from them, even if they are in rural areas. Whatever money is collected from them will be spent in rural areas for providing pure drinkable water,” he added.
To protect the most vulnerable populations, Sukhu assured that widows, single women, special persons, or anyone who has an income of less than a thousand rupees will not be charged for the water bill. He emphasized that income taxpayers will have to pay the bills, with a fixed rate of Rs 100 in rural areas.
Addressing the issue of flood-prone areas, the Chief Minister pointed out that the government had already notified last year that no new houses should be built near rivers and rivulets. However, in areas like Samej, where the village is old and traditionally inhabited, the floods are largely attributed to global warming. “I have already said that both central and state governments need to do a study on disasters and floods,” Sukhu added. “Those students who have suffered due to floods will be provided accommodations for schools, or special buses will be routed for them to nearby schools so that their education does not suffer,” he concluded.
Doubts Revealed
Himachal Pradesh -: Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India, known for its beautiful mountains and valleys.
Rs 900 Crore -: Rs 900 Crore means 900 crore rupees, which is a very large amount of money. One crore is equal to 10 million rupees.
Heavy Rainfall -: Heavy rainfall means a lot of rain falling in a short period of time, which can cause floods and other problems.
Floods -: Floods happen when there is too much water, usually from rain, and it covers the land, causing damage to homes, roads, and other places.
CM Sukhu -: CM Sukhu refers to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who is the leader of the government in Himachal Pradesh.
Infrastructure -: Infrastructure includes things like roads, bridges, and buildings that are important for everyday life and the economy.
Previous Government’s Policies -: This means the rules and decisions made by the government that was in power before the current one.
Rescue Operations -: Rescue operations are efforts to save people who are in danger, like those trapped by floods.
Vulnerable Populations -: Vulnerable populations are groups of people who are more likely to be harmed or affected by disasters, like the elderly or poor.
Water Bill Charges -: Water bill charges are the money people have to pay for using water in their homes.
Disaster Studies -: Disaster studies are research and learning about natural disasters to understand how to prevent and manage them better.
High Alert -: High alert means being very watchful and ready to act quickly in case of danger.
Daily Meetings -: Daily meetings are gatherings that happen every day to discuss and plan actions.
