Jai Ram Thakur on Mandi floods: ‘Apple crop is gone… No cultivable land is left'
*What is the damage that the recent tragedy has caused?
Its epicentre is my constituency Seraj, which has 78 panchayats. Around 45 of them have been badly hit while 600 families have been rendered homeless. They are currently taking refuge in shelter homes, community halls and schools. Around 1,000 houses have been partially damaged.
Apart from this, 80% of water lines have been damaged. This alone has led to a loss of approximately Rs 60 crore. Around 30,000 people are living without normal water supply. A 9-km water supply line has also been washed away in my native village of Tandi.
With regard to the (damaged) road network, a 60-km road from Chail Chowk to Janjehli – seen as a lifeline – has caused a loss of Rs 300 crore. This is not even including link roads. If we include that, the losses would shoot up. A total of 18 bridges have also been washed away.
In areas like Thunag, Bagsiad and Janjehli, there is no power supply and internet for the past 14 days. The total loss is anything between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 crore.
*You mentioned your native village. Did you suffer any personal loss?
My ancestral house has borne the brunt of it. The structure has been partially damaged, a portion of the courtyard has been washed away, and toilets and cowsheds have been washed away. Two of my brothers' houses have been partially damaged. Apart from this, 200 apple trees were also destroyed. I had to walk as the link road had been washed away.
*You spoke of apple plants…
There was flourishing horticulture here. The apple crop was good this time with many people growing 200-300 trees on an average. Nothing is left now. Also, our estimates show 700 animals and 600 cowsheds have been washed away.
Around 1,000 polyhouses with flowers of 15 varieties have been destroyed. In a nutshell, there is no cultivable land left under our feet now.
*Why do you think Mandi faces floods repeatedly?
It is something unfortunate and needs to be studied. In 2023, it was Mandi and Kullu in the middle of monsoon. But this time, it happened on June 30 in the midst of pre-monsoon showers.
Soil has been eroded from as high as 12,000-13,000 feet. Every nullah has received 10 times more water than usual.
*Has it caused any human casualties?
A total of 42 lives have been lost in Mandi district, including 29 in Seraj, nine in Nachan and three in Karsog.
*How are the relief operations going?
Earlier, relief materials were sent to cut-off areas only through helicopters. Now, roads have been restored to some extent but many areas still exist where relief is being sent on mules. Ration kits and essential items are being sent from all other Assembly constituencies on the BJP's call. These are 10 times more than the state government's relief.
*You seem to be out on the ground daily…
I have travelled more than 125 km on foot since July 1. (Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh) Sukhu ji came only nine days after the tragedy struck.
*The BJP's Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut also visited the affected areas.
She visited and went back. She has promised to sanction new projects with her MPLADS funds and take up the issue at the central level.
*The Congress has alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences for the flood in Texas, USA, but did not speak of the situation in Mandi.
This is not true. I have spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and will speak to PM Modi in Delhi. He is very helpful.
*You said you would accompany CM Sukhu to Delhi…
I will do whatever is in the people's interest. I will go with the CM to Delhi to seek aid (from the Centre).
Rehabilitation and restoration are going to be an uphill task (in Himachal Pradesh). As an MLA, I will do everything in my power.
*What steps do you think need to be taken so that such a tragedy does not recur in Himachal Pradesh?
I discussed this issue with (BJP national president) J P Nadda a few days ago. We need to conduct a study. Earlier, houses on river banks were at risk but now even those located far away are in danger. Forests have been washed away. It is a strange phenomenon.
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