Former CM blames Haryana for floods in state

Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh,who blamed Haryana and Hansi-Butana canal for the floods in Punjab,said on Wednesday that it was not right for the Union Home Ministry to ask the states to first utilise the calamity relief funds at its disposal for flood relief. “I don’t think this is correct. Home Minister P Chidambaram should look at it from a larger perspective. The damage exceeds the calamity relief fund,” said Capt Amarinder,flanked by MLA Lal Singh,while addressing the media.

He also said that the criteria for flood relief needs to change to compensate for the loss. Capt Amarinder said the Congress will meet the Prime Minister for relief ,however,the state government first needs to come out with the details of the loss. He said the “illegal” construction of Hansi-Butana link canal by Haryana was the primary cause for the deluge in the state. “The Hansi Butana canal was illegally constructed in 2006 by Haryana even though the matter was pending before the Supreme Court. The water dispute between Punjab and Haryana and the Presidential reference on Punjab terminating the river water agreements in 2004 are also still pending,” he said.

He alleged the Haryana had gone ahead with the canal’s construction despite Punjab’s protest at that time and without even knowing the quantum of water which would be available for the canal. Haryana even ignored the Central Water Commission’s concerns. “They were asked to have 44 siphons for flood waters to get through,but they created only one. In Patiala alone,2.60 lakh acres of land has been submerged under water,” he said. He accused the state government of not cleaning the drains which aggravated the flood situation in the state. To a query on Punjab Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon,who was chargesheeted by the CBI,Amarinder said the state cabinet could not deny prosecution sanction in the case.

‘Yadav who?’

Amid all the blame game between the two states,Capt Amarinder Singh expressed total ignorance on who the Irrigation Minister of Haryana was. When he was asked to reply on allegations by Capt Yadav,he said,“Who is this fellow. Is he a minister?”