Vikramaditya briefs Guv about damage caused by monsoon

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 18

PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh today gave detailed information to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla about the damage caused by monsoon rains in the state and the restoration works being carried out by his department. The minister informed the Governor that the PWD alone has suffered a damage of around Rs 500 crore in rain-related incidents this monsoon.

The total damage suffered by the state has crossed the Rs 1,000-crore mark, with PWD enduring the highest losses. Jal Shakti Vibhag is second in the list of the department’s enduring maximum damage followed by the Department of Horticulture at the third place.

Singh told the Governor that he had visited disaster-affected areas of Samej, Bagipul, Rajban, Manikaran and Malana, which suffered the maximum loss related to life and property. He informed the Governor that the PWD built a Bailey Bridge in Bagipul in just five days after the original bridge was swept away by the flash floods on the night of July 31. On the occasion, he also sought support to the state from Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister for Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari.

The PWD Minister said that the main objective was the development of the state and the Centre should extend generous aid to help the state government achieve this goal.