Old photo of CM speaking in house. Used for indicative purpose only
Shimla, Aug 18,
On the day one the Monsoon assembly session in Himachal Pradesh turned contentious as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur engaged in a verbal sparring regarding the disaster relief operations in the rain-affected Seraj assembly constituency. With the aftermath of the devastating cloudburst that resulted in the loss of 31 lives, the handling of relief efforts burgeoned into a hot topic.
Government’s commitment to relief efforts
Chief Minister Sukhu told the House that Seraj, the constituency of the Leader of Opposition, had already been included under the Central Relief Fund, and Rs 3 crore had been sanctioned from the State Relief Fund. He rejected allegations of food scarcity in affected villages, stating that Deputy Commissioners and PWD engineers had been directed to ensure the supply of machinery and food material without delay. He added that one Executive Engineer had been removed for negligence and said he was prepared to join the Leader of Opposition in approaching the Centre for a special relief package. The Chief Minister also informed that an inquiry had been ordered into the case of a person who allegedly received Rs 7 lakh in relief despite not being affected by the disaster. The CM even acknowledgthat Union Minister J.P. Nadda and Jai Ram Thakur had already met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister on the issue.
On the controversy over the horticulture college, Sukhu said that students and parents had requested relocation to Nachan, and the government had acted accordingly. He asserted that the move should not be viewed through a political lens since the institution had not been shifted outside Mandi district and continued to fall within the constituency of BJP MLA Vinod Kumar.
The Chief Minister also referred to the Thunag protest incident, stating that shoes were thrown at the national flag placed on a ministerial vehicle. He said those named in the FIR should apologise to the tricolour, after which the cases could be withdrawn. He dismissed the allegation that space in the FIR had been kept vacant to target the Leader of Opposition, clarifying that the government had no such intention.
On the demand to rehabilitate people on forest land, Sukhu said that no such assurance could be made in the House, as judicial pronouncements had made it clear that the State government lacked the authority to settle people on forest land.
Opposition concerns
Earlier, initiating the discussion under Rule 67, Jai Ram Thakur stated that 31 people were killed in the June 30–July 1 cloudburst and estimated the total losses at more than Rs 1,000 crore. He argued that the Rs 2 crore sanctioned by the state government was grossly inadequate, pointing to damages worth Rs 200 crore to PWD infrastructure and Rs 100 crore to IPH schemes alone. He alleged that the state government had adopted a “pick and choose” approach in relief allocation and accused it of diverting funds to benefit Congress workers. He further claimed that in 2023-24, though the Centre had released Rs 787 crore, the state failed to distribute it effectively.
The Leader of Opposition also criticised the relocation of the Thunag Horticulture College, alleging it had been shifted to an unsafe site. He said 62 homeless protestors had been booked under FIRs, alleging that serial number one had been left vacant “to target him.” He informed the House that nearly 1,000 livestock were washed away, and several villages were displaced, demanding the creation of permanent shelters and rehabilitation colonies at safer locations. He urged that restoration of roads and water schemes be carried out transparently through joint action of HPPWD and IPH, warning that temporary arrangements could not sustain beyond a few months.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
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