BJP under fire in Gujarat over flood relief; Congress demands Rs 2000 crore package

The Congress and BJP on Saturday sparred over relief for the flood-affected areas of Amreli district, with the opposition party demanding a package Rs 2,000 crore.

Heavy rains lashed parts of Gujarat causing flood in Amreli district and Gondal tehsil of Rajkot district on June 24, in which 70 people, many domestic as well as wild animals including lions from Gir sanctuary area died.

Congress today reiterated its demand for a relief package alleging that the state government was delaying the decision on the pretext that it was conducting survey of the damage.

"The state government should immediately announce a package of Rs 2,000 crore for the affected farmers," state Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki said here.

"The people of worst-affected regions like Amreli district and Gondal tehsil of Rajkot district are facing acute problems. They are demanding that the state government immediately come to their rescue.

"However, the state government is only making big announcements, but no work is being done on the ground. The state government is saying that it is conducting survey," Solanki said.

The BJP, however, defended the Anandiben Patel- government.

"We have restored electricity in 585 villages, water supply in 161 village and road connectivity on 306 routes," state BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja said.

"All the schools in affected villages have restarted, we have given cash dole of Rs 6 crore to 23,000 families, survey of damaged houses is complete and money will be paid to affected families in the next two to three days. We have also given relief of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of deceased," he said, alleging, that Congress was only interested in "playing politics over the issue".