PCS to be accountable for any lapse in flood relief: Badal

Punjab Civil Services officers would be accountable for any lapse in the flood relief operations across the state, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said today.
PCS officers are deputed as 'nodal officers' for the execution of relief and rehabilitation operations in the flood ravaged areas across the state.
Addressing a gathering here during his tour of the 11 flood affected villages of Muktsar district, Badal asked the 'nodal officers' to ensure transparency and efficiency in the relief works without any 'pick and choose' policy, in tandem with concerned village Panchayats.
He asked the 'nodal officers' to disburse compensation after thoroughly cross checking the reports submitted by the Panchayats on the basis of total assessment of damage/loss sustained by the villagers.

Badal said that if any genuine flood victim was deprived of his legitimate share in the relief then the concerned officer and the Panchayat would be held responsible for it.
The Chief Minister advised both the 'nodal officers' and Panchayats to be extra vigilant in accomplishing this task with due care and deliberation.

"We are committed to help all of you and it is obligatory on our part to extend all possible help in this hour of grave crisis," Badal said
The Chief Minister reiterated that he had already ordered a special Girdawri (revenue assessment) for assessing the loss caused to the standing crops besides a survey to ascertain the damages to property in these flood ravaged areas.

Badal blamed the Union government for allegedly turning a deaf ear to their repeated requests for revising the norms of compensation for the damage caused to crops, cattle and houses, which was too meagre to compensate the loss of the victims inflicted by such natural disasters.
The Chief Minister alleged that the Centre's policies reflected complete insensitivity towards the matters concerning the common man especially the farmers.