Gujarat government has intensified relief work for the flood victims in Surat. Deputy CM Harsh Sanghvi said that financial assistance of ₹ 6,800 will be given to the affected families by Saturday morning. Clothes will also be distributed to migrant labourers.
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [भारत]July 10 (ANI): Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi said the state government has expedited relief and rehabilitation measures in flood-hit Surat. He announced that financial assistance of Rs 6,800 for household goods and cash assistance has reached more than 20 per cent of the affected families and will be distributed to all eligible families by Friday evening or latest Saturday morning.
Addressing the media on Thursday, the Deputy Chief Minister also directed officials to distribute new clothes to over 150 affected migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states who lost their belongings in the floods. Sanghvi conducted a ground inspection of the cleaning work in the flood affected areas at midnight and reviewed the progress of relief and rehabilitation work being carried out by the administration.
Earlier in the day, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a review meeting on the flood situation in Surat city. Union Minister CR Patil was also present in the meeting.
Financial assistance will reach by Saturday morning
Giving details of the review meeting, Sanghvi said that as per the decisions taken during the meeting, the citywide survey to assess the loss of household items and identify beneficiaries for cash assistance has been largely completed.
He said, “The financial assistance of Rs 6,800 for cash assistance and household items has reached more than 20 per cent of the people. By tomorrow evening, or at the latest by the next morning, all those families whose houses were flooded or suffered damage will get this assistance. Even today, the entire administrative team is busy preparing distribution packets. We are hopeful that this work will be completed by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.”
Special arrangement for settlement of insurance claims
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has also put in place a mechanism for timely settlement of insurance claims of those who suffered losses due to floods. He said the Surat Collector will hold review meetings with insurance companies every 15 days to ensure that claims are settled without any delay.
Sanghvi said, “An online dashboard has also been created where people can track their appeals made to insurance companies. The government has appointed the RTO and lead banker of Surat city in-charge for this process. Under his leadership, assistance will be provided to ensure settlement of insurance claims.”
He further said that the survey of shops and commercial establishments affected by the floods is also nearing completion. He said, “By tomorrow evening, the survey of all affected commercial areas of Surat will be completed. In the coming days, under the guidance of the Chief Minister, a policy will be made to ensure that assistance reaches everyone as quickly as possible.”
Cleanliness and health priority of government
Highlighting the government’s immediate priorities after the floods, Sanghvi said sanitation, safe drinking water and public health remain the key focus areas. “Our primary priorities are sanitation, clean water and health. House-to-house health survey has already started. Our teams are reaching every house with all the essential medicines, and in the next three days, they will visit every house affected by the flood waters,” he said.
He also announced that medical tents and health camps will be set up at 10 key locations across Surat to provide health services to the residents. “Medical teams will be available from morning till night in major areas where waterlogging occurred. Anyone feeling unwell or facing any health problem can go to these camps for treatment,” Sanghvi said.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said that the duration of water supply to flood affected areas has been doubled in the coming days and officials are giving priority to repairing and cleaning roads. “We are making every possible effort to reach the roads of every residential society. First, the main roads will be cleaned, then the society roads will be cleaned with the help of municipal corporation teams,” he said.
Deputy CM saluted the ‘spirit of Surat’
Recalling his visits to several affected localities, Sanghvi praised the resilience and solidarity displayed by residents during the crisis. He said, “Today, I visited several areas and met residents. Seeing how the people of this city have supported each other in the last three days, I want to salute the citizens of Surat. Despite facing such a huge crisis and so many difficulties, the ‘spirit of Surat’ has been incredible.”
Sanghvi said he saw unaffected residents volunteering to help families whose houses were damaged and traders joining hands to clean affected shops. He said, “I observed that citizens who themselves were unaffected were actively coming forward to help those whose houses were in distress. In commercial areas, if one person’s shop was damaged, many others came forward to help in cleaning it. This shows the remarkable spirit of the people of Surat.”
The Deputy Chief Minister assured the residents that the State Government will provide all necessary financial and material assistance while continuing to provide moral support to the people affected by the floods. Sanghvi said, “The people of Surat have faced very difficult challenges, but we all stand together as a family. All necessary financial and material support will be provided, and we are also here to provide moral support. I once again salute the spirit of the citizens of Surat.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams conducted rescue operations and successfully evacuated 85 people, including 36 men, 27 women and 22 children, from Shriram Nagar Society in Surat, Gujarat. (ANI)
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