The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday passed a resolution urging the Central Government to declare the destruction caused by heavy rains across the state as a national disaster.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan moved the resolution under Rule 102, saying that since the entire state has suffered massive devastation, the Assembly should urge the Centre to provide financial assistance and declare the calamity a national disaster.
The resolution was passed by voice vote with support from opposition members. However, BJP legislators started raising slogans while Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi was replying to the debate.
Replying to the debate, Negi condemned the BJP’s conduct, accusing them of using even a disaster as an opportunity to target the government. “The BJP is deliberately trying to create an impression that people are starving, only to mislead the public for their narrow political gains,” he said amid the uproar.
He said 38 people were evacuated from Chamba on Thursday, while in Saloon village all houses were washed away but lives were saved. “They (opposition) are anti-Himachal. Even in 2023 monsoons they had not supported the resolution adopted by this house, seeking special financial assistance to Himachal,” he said.
Negi further accused the Centre of ignoring Himachal, saying no extra financial support had been given to deal with extraordinary situation beyond routine allocations.
Speaker Kuldeep Pathania called the resolution important and urgent and in the state’s interest. “I am admitting the resolution for debate after relaxing the mandatory three days’ notice period for debate under Rule 102,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said the BJP supported the resolution as the whole state was suffering and they were equally concerned that timely help should reach disaster-hit people and restoration work should be quick and effective. “Seeing the situation, there is an urgent need to requisition IAF helicopters to rescue people, especially facing medical problem in Lahaul Spiti as it will take very long to restore road connectivity,” he said.
Legislators from both sides participated in the debate.
Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh said the Centre must provide special assistance and relief funds to Himachal to deal with the unprecedented situation due to rain disaster and expedite relief and restoration works. “There is an urgent need to develop a new development model which is sustainable and will help check the indiscriminate felling of trees and cutting of mountains,” he said.
Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh said NHAI should be held accountable for landslides. “This is a manmade disaster and not the act of God as the rivers are flowing above the roads constructed by NHAI,” he said.
Other MLAs who spoke included ID Lakhanpal (Barsar), Surinder Shourie (Banjar), Hans Raj (Churah), Janak Raj (Bharmour) and Anuradha Rana (Lahaul Spiti).
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