UP minister asks staff to hold 'puja' to contain floods


Lucknow, Jul 14 (IANS): In a bizarre order, the Uttar Pradesh Minister for Jal Shakti Mahendra Singh, has directed the field staff of the irrigation department to hold regular 'puja' at the rivers where water levels have started rising due to rains.

The minister issued these directives on Sunday during a video conference with field staff to review works to check the flood menace.

A press release issued later by the Jal Shakti ministry specifically mentioned the directives for performing 'puja' at swelling rivers.

The minister has advised the field staff to hold prayers at rivers and offer flowers as has been done by villagers living near rivers.

"It is not a new tradition. Hindus consider rivers as goddesses and worship them. The field staff should also do the same to contain floods," said the spokesman of the minister.

Just before the onset of monsoon the Jal Shakti minister had toured the state and inspected dams and rivers.

The minister has also asked the field staff to maintain a round the clock vigil at vulnerable points and keep the state headquarters informed updated.

This is the first time that government employees have been asked to hold 'puja' in an official order.

"It is almost bizarre that we are being asked to hold 'puja' to contain the flood situation. I have never even heard of such an order being issued in my entire career," said a senior IAS officer.

The minister, meanwhile, could not be contacted despite several attempts.

  

Top Stories


Leave a Comment

Title: UP minister asks staff to hold 'puja' to contain floods



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.