Badal takes up issue of water-logging with PM

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said water-logging had assumed proportions of a human tragedy, requiring out-of-the-box long term measures for a permanent solution.
"The problem is no longer limited to merely saving crops; the entire affected area had been doomed to a massive socio-economic devastation and unless matching comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction initiative was undertaken, the crisis could have a spillover effect on social stability, creating economic frustration and disturbing law and order," he said here.
Badal was appreciative of the sympathetic hearing and assurances given by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on demands put forth by him during the PM's visit to Chandigarh and said, he was hopeful of a solution to the state's woes as the Prime Minister had invited him to New Delhi with a comprehensive report.

He said, it was unfortunate that the Centre had taken so long to wake up to the gravity of the situation and was continuing to strangle the much-needed central relief and rehabilitation measures with technicalities and norms.
The Chief Minister, who has been camping in the affected areas ever since the floods hit Malwa hinterland, especially Muktsar district, warned that the government would not accept any laxity on the part of any official in relief measures.