Sun, Jan 28, 2024
Sun, Jan 28, 2024
ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R With rains continuing to batter Gujarat, the BJP government is a facing a dual challenge of tackling the crisis and an onslaught by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the alleged failure of pre-monsoon plans and “development model”.
Ironically, the challenge comes at a time when Ahmedabad has figured in Time Magazine’s “50 extraordinary destinations to explore” in its list of world’s greatest places of 2022. Kerala, too, finds a place in the list.
The magazine has mentioned that India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, Ahmedabad, “boasts both ancient landmarks and contemporary innovations that make it a mecca for cultural tourism, from the serene Gandhi Ashram that sits on 36 acres on the banks of the Sabarmati River to Navratri, a vibrant nine-day celebration billed as longest dance festival of the world”.
The Gujarat Science City in Ahmedabad also finds a mention for its robotic gallery and many other attractions.
In Ahmedabad, which is even dubbed as a smart city, the pre-monsoon plans of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation stood exposed when rains lashed the city two days ago for several hours.
Normal life was thrown out of gear and practically there was hardly any place left in the city where waterlogging was not reported. Even two days after the onslaught of the rain, there are many housing societies and commercial complexes where water is still accumulated.
Several basements of housing societies reported flooding and vehicles got submerged, leading to loss running into crores of rupees. The civic body fell short of machines to pump out water and the housing societies had to buy pumps. Roads were washed away and majority of the roads saw huge potholes, making it difficult for the vehicles to navigate.
The situation continues to remain bad in South Gujarat and Saurashtra and parts of North Gujarat with thousands of people being shifted to safer places.
A portion of the national highway linking South Gujarat with Mumbai has been closed for vehicular traffic.
According to details, more than 80 rain-related deaths have been reported in the state so far.NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in affected areas and in-charge ministers have been visiting the cities and villages. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, too, had an aerial survey of the affected areas near Vadodara.
To complicate problems for the ruling BJP in the election year, AAP leaders have been addressing press conferences exposing the “development model”. Their social media handles are flooded with photographs and videos that reflect the damages caused and the tales of people who have suffered huge losses during the rains.
One of the videos, doing rounds, shows a vehicle introduced by the BJP mentioning Vande Gujarat and “Vikas Yatra” (Development Yatra). It shows the vehicle navigating through potholes. Social media handles of Congress leaders, including also show independent MLA from Vadgam Jignesh Mevani, also show the damages.
Social media handles of the AAP also show the pictures of damages and miseries with captions of 27 years of BJP rule in Gujarat has only led to destruction.
On its part, the Gujarat BJP has been highlighting the financial assistance given to the affected people and the helpline numbers set up for emergency situations.
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