Early Times Report JAMMU, Aug 10: In a significant step towards strengthening flood protection infrastructure in the Bahu Assembly Constituency, MLA Bahu Ch. Vikram Randhawa today started crate protection work worth ?90 lakh at Chatta, aimed at safeguarding the area and its residents from the threat of flooding and soil erosion. The work is being undertaken by the Flood Control Department. Senior and field officials of the department, including the XEN, AEE and JE, along with the concerned contractor, were present during the commencement of the work. Ch. Vikram Randhawa was accompanied by Mandal President Surjeet Singh and party workers including Kulveer Charak, Raman Sharma, Gulshan Sharma, Vikram, Farmaan Ali, Pankaj Bral, Amit Gupta, Tirath Ram, Abdul Majeed (Bittu) and Abhishek Sharma, besides a large number of local residents and party workers. The local residents accorded a warm welcome to the MLA and expressed their gratitude for taking up the crucial flood-protection work. They apprised the MLA of the difficulties faced by the area during the previous year's floods, when the locality suffered extensive damage. The residents also pointed out that the area continues to remain vulnerable during heavy rainfall and sudden rises in water levels. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Bahu Ch. Vikram Randhawa said that the safety of the people remains his top priority and that timely preventive measures are essential to protect vulnerable areas from flood-related damage. He said that Chatta had suffered significant damage during last year's floods, and keeping in view the continued threat of heavy rains, the ?90 lakh crate work has been taken up on priority. Ch. Vikram Randhawa appreciated the Flood Control Department and the concerned XEN for initiating the work and directed the officials and contractor to ensure quality construction, proper execution and timely completion, with no compromise on the quality of work. He further assured the local residents that all necessary measures would be taken to strengthen flood protection and ensure their safety during the monsoon season. The local residents thanked Ch. Vikram Randhawa Ji for personally taking up the issue and initiating the ?90 lakh protection work, expressing hope that the project would provide lasting relief and security to the area. |