Congress Slams Govt Over Relief, Demands Special Package for Bastar Flood Victims

Raipur – Congress leaders Deepak Baij and Charandas Mahant have strongly criticized the Chhattisgarh government over inadequate relief measures for Bastar flood victims. Baij termed the distribution of small dry ration kits as “a mockery of the poor” and demanded higher compensation, while Mahant wrote to the CM seeking immediate relief, medical camps, and long-term flood management in the region.

Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) president Deepak Baij on Tuesday raised questions over the quality of relief being distributed to flood-affected families in Bastar, calling it “a mockery of the poor and victims.” Addressing a press conference in Raipur, Baij displayed the relief packets being given to people, which included only a quarter kilo of pulses, rice, and oil, along with packets of soy chunks and chickpeas worth just ₹10 each.

He said families who had lost homes, belongings, livestock, and their lifetime savings in the floods were being handed dry ration even though many lacked utensils or drinking water. Baij demanded that the state government immediately provide ₹50,000 in interim relief to each affected family, followed by additional compensation after assessing the damage.

Baij criticized Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s Bastar visit as “mere tokenism,” claiming that he only handed out cheques to two or three families and distributed torn sarees. He alleged that when victims complained, some were made to sit at a police station for three hours instead of being given help.

The Congress leader said the compensation announced — ₹1.2 lakh for concrete houses and ₹10,000 for mud houses — was “grossly inadequate” and should be raised to ₹10 lakh and ₹5 lakh respectively. He also questioned the use of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund, pointing out that Dantewada alone receives nearly ₹1,000 crore annually, yet victims were being handed “ridiculous” relief kits.

Baij demanded a special relief package for Bastar, immediate reconstruction of washed-away bridges and roads, and proper rehabilitation measures for villages still cut off due to floods.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Dr. Charandas Mahant has written to Chief Minister Sai, expressing concern over the “grave flood situation” in Bastar caused by heavy rainfall. He said thousands of families have been affected, crops destroyed, and houses damaged, while villagers continue to struggle for food, water, and shelter.

Highlighting the vulnerability of Bastar’s largely tribal population, Mahant warned of rising risks of malaria, infectious diseases, and snakebites during the rainy season. He urged the government to ensure prompt relief and compensation under provisions of the SDRF and NDRF, transparent surveys for crop and property losses, and medical camps with adequate supplies in affected areas.

Mahant also called for long-term measures to strengthen flood management and disaster preparedness in Bastar.