SHIMLA, Aug. 28 — The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday passed a resolution urging the Centre to declare the devastation caused by incessant rains across the state as a national disaster.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan moved the resolution under Rule 102, saying there was no doubt the state had suffered unprecedented destruction. “However, I do not feel the Assembly can be deferred as many important matters have to be taken up, besides some Bills have to be passed. Under Rule 102, I move a resolution urging the Centre to declare the rain disaster in Himachal as a national disaster in which the entire House can participate,” he said.
Speaker Kuldeep Pathania admitted the motion for debate, terming it “important, urgent and in the state’s interest.” He added that the mandatory three-day notice for debate under Rule 102 had been relaxed in view of the emergency.
The Opposition extended support to the resolution. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur said both treasury and opposition benches shared equal concern for those affected. “The entire state has been severely hit, and timely help must reach the people. Restoration work should be quick and effective. Seeing the situation, there is an urgent need to requisition Air Force helicopters to rescue people, especially those facing medical emergencies in Lahaul Spiti, as road connectivity will take very long to restore,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri informed the House that one helicopter had already been requisitioned for Lahaul Spiti and four for Chamba. “As and when there is a window, subject to weather conditions, evacuation will be undertaken of stranded people,” he noted.
Legislators from both the ruling Congress and the BJP will now debate the scale of destruction before the Assembly formally forwards its request to the Union government, pressing for the unprecedented monsoon calamity to be notified as a national disaster.
