Gorakhpur: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday made an aerial survey of flood affected areas in eastern Uttar Pradesh, promising central help for rescue and rehabilitation of marooned people, and suggested that the state consider inter-linking of rivers for a permanent solution.
During the day-long visit to the worst-affected Gorakhpur, Sidharthnagar, Balrampur, Gonda, Basti, Bahraich and Shravasthi districts, Singh said that a central inter-ministerial team will soon visit the flood affected region to assess the damage and to formulate a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package.
"A total of Rs 312 crore is currently with the (UP) State Disaster Relief Fund. 75 per cent money of this fund comes from the central government. I ask the state government to spend the money for immediate rescue and relief works," he told reporters after conducting the aerial survey of the affected districts for more than two hours.
The Home Minister termed the flood situation in UP, where 13 districts were affected, as grim and made it clear that all central assistance will be provided to the state for rescue, relief and rehabilitation.
"Welfare of common people is the prime concern of our government. That is why our government wants to cooperate and offer help to all state governments irrespective of party in power. We want to work above party politics," he said.
Singh said teams of National Disaster Response Force, Shashatra Seema Bal and Indian Air Force have been offering all help to the local administration in the flood relief and rescue works.
He said the next of kin of all those killed in the tragedy will be given Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation. So far 84 people have lost their lives in the recent floods in UP. The Home Minister said government must find a permanent solution to the recurring flood problems in the Uttar Pradesh and asked the state government to ponder over the proposal of river linking.
"Inter-linking of river is a significant proposal. UP government should ponder over it. The central government will offer full cooperation to it," he said.
Singh said the floods in eastern UP take place due to the excess water in the rivers which originate in Nepal and hence cooperation of Nepal is very necessary. "Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very keen on improving relations with neighbouring countries. During his recent visit to Nepal, he had discussed the issue, especially about the projects which needed to be constructed to control the water in rivers and generate hydro power," he said.
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