Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that all the residents of the state are proud of the citizens and institutions doing outstanding work in disaster management of Karam Dam of Dhar. Team Madhya Pradesh has set an excellent example of scientific disaster management. It was only because of courage, hard work and coordination that there was no loss of life. Also, we did not allow any harm to animals. The damage caused to the crops will be compensated by the state government. A committee has been constituted to investigate the Karam dam incident. Action will be taken according to the facts revealed in the investigation. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was addressing the felicitation ceremony of individuals and institutions who have done excellent work in disaster management of Karam Dam in Dhar district at the CM residence.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan presented cheques of Rs. 2 lakh each as Samman Nidhi to Poclain machine operators engaged in relief and rescue of Karam Dam. He also honoured social workers and non-government organissations. Water Resources Minister Shri Tulsiram Silawat, Public Health and Family Welfare Minister and Dhar district in-charge Minister Dr. Prabhuram Choudhary, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Minister Rajvardhan Singh Dattigaon, Principal Secretary Water Resources Shri SN Mishra and other officers were present.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan listened virtually to the experiences of Indore Divisional Commissioner Shri Pawan Sharma, Collector Dhar Shri Pankaj Jain and Collector Khargone Shri Kumar Purushottam regarding the management of Karam Dam disaster. Those who came to the CM Residence including Dhamnod Municipal Council president Shri Dinesh Sharma, Dhamnod's social worker Shri Pramod Kedia, Shri Gaurav Jat, Shri Samar Singh, who opened the valve of Dam's pipe, also shared their experiences related to disaster management and relief work.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that with the grace of God, guidance of technical experts and cooperation of all, the water of the dam was drained out in 24 hours. It was a matter of satisfaction that the water did not enter the villages and the houses. Sometimes a testing time like this is created. In this difficult time, the three ministers and the entire staff of the administration continued to discharge their duty with responsibility and efficiency. The credit for this success goes to everyone.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan handed over cheques of Rs. 2 lakh each to Poclain operator, Poclain machine helper, breaker operator etc., as Samman Nidhi, for making way for safe drainage of dams water. Along with garlanding Shri Shivkumar Kole, Shri Sanjay Bharti, Shri Mohammad Syed Alam, Shri Pramod Kumar, Shri Suraj Kumar Kole, Shri Nitish Kumar, Shri Amit, Jai Singh, Shri Jitendra Darbar, Motilal, Shri Indu, Shri Gangaram, Shri Sunil, Shri Shyamlal, Shri Vijay and Shri Santosh Osari, certificates and cheques were given.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan honoured voluntary organisations and public representatives engaged in relief work by providing them shawls, shriphal and certificates. Dhar district's Municipal Council Dhamnod president Shri Dinesh Sharma, Dhamnod's senior social worker Shri Pramod Kedia, Village Panchayat Kothida Sarpanch Smt. Sevlabai, Sarpanch Village Panchayat Utawali Smt. Radhabai, Sarpanch Village Panchayat Faraspura Smt. Santoshbai, Sarpanch Village Panchayat Sirsodia Smt. Lalita, Sarpanch Village Panchayat Balwara Smt. Munnibai, Sarpanch Village Panchayat Baiganda Shri Radheshyam Vasuniya and Sarpanch Village Panchayat Balwari Shri Suresh were honoured. The office bearers of Patidar Dharamshala, Seva Bharati, Sanatan Sarathi Sanstha, Maa Annapurna Rogi Seva Sanstha and Bharat Vikas Parishad were also honoured.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan honoured Smt. Gendubai Dabur, Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Jalkota of Khargone district, Shri Mohabbat Singh, Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Badvi, Shri Mukesh, Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Kakaria, Smt. Jamuna Bai, Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Makshi, Smt. Sangeeta Bai, Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Kusumbhaya, Smt. Sevanti Bai, Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Bakaner. For excellent work, Shri Mahesh of Village Panchayat Jalkota, Shri Dheeraj of Village Panchayat Kakaria, Shri Bharat Singh of Village Panchayat Moyda, Shri Mahesh of Village Panchayat Nayapura, Shri Ganesh of Village Panchayat Kusumbhaya and Shri Amichand of Village Panchayat Bakaner were also honoured.
Water Resources Minister Shri Silawat said that Chief Minister Shri Chouhan had clear instructions that there should be no loss of life. According to this instruction, all the rescue activities were conducted after developing the strategy. Minister Shri Silawat praised the courage and devotion to duty of the Poclain machine operators.
Sharing his experience in the function, Dhamnod Municipal Council President Shri Dinesh Sharma said that the people of Dharamshala and Marriage Garden also helped by providing free service in the relief work. Dhamnod's social worker Shri Pramod Kedia said that the Seva Bharti team worked sensitively to save human life as well as protect cattles. Shri Samar Singh, who opened the valve of the Dam's pipe, told that at first I was afraid to open the valve, but when I thought about the people of many villages, I risked my life and proceeded to open the valve. Gaurav Jat of Dhamnod, who arranged food for the villagers, said that as soon as we got the information, we had arranged 500 food packets in an hour. The special thing is that the sisters who came to Dhamnod for Rakhi also took care of the food arrangements.
Indore Divisional Commissioner Shri Sharma said that during the administrative service, there was good experience in getting the dam built, but this was the first experience to get the dam cleared. There were many fears due to the damage to the dam and the incessant rains, but as a result of the encouragement of the Chief Minister Shri Chouhan, his prompt decision and clear instructions, he faced the disaster by overcoming the fear. Collector Dhar Shri Jain said that systematic operation of disaster management and relief works became possible with the cooperation of the entire administration team and public representatives. Khargone Collector Shri Kumar Purushottam said that it was a wonderful example of disaster and relief management.
