Punjab flood relief: Rs 1,600 crore package to reach farmers directly, says Union minister BL Verma
PTC Web Desk: Union Minister of State BL Verma on Saturday clarified that the Rs 1,600 crore flood relief package for Punjab would be transferred directly to farmers’ accounts. The Union minister said the assistance would be disbursed as soon as the crop damage survey (girdawari) was completed.
He added that additional aid could be provided, if necessary. The package was initially announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his visit to flood-affected areas in Punjab. However, the Punjab Government has expressed concerns that the relief amount is insufficient to fully assist farmers.
Highlighting the cause of the recent floods, Union minister BL Verma pointed to extensive riverbank mining along the Sutlej in Ludhiana, allegedly carried out by the brother of Punjab’s Water Resources Minister. He noted that despite protests by local residents, the mining continued, causing erosion of around 340 acres of land.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Punjab on September 9 to conduct an aerial survey of flood-affected regions. At a meeting with 19 farmers and teams from the NDRF and the SDRF in Gurdaspur, he announced the Rs 1,600 crore relief package for Punjab. Additionally, a compensation of Rs 2 lakh per deceased and Rs 50,000 per injured person was declared.
Several Punjab leaders and ministers have urged the Centre to increase the relief package. Punjab minister Aman Arora requested a Rs 20,000 crore package, citing extensive crop and soil damage. Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal proposed a resolution in the Assembly demanding Rs 20,000 crore for flood relief.
Minister Hardeep Singh Mundia described the Rs 1,600 crore assistance as insufficient, estimating Punjab’s total flood loss at Rs 60,000 crore.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal also called for a Rs 20,000 crore package and full waiver of farmers’ and agricultural labourers’ loans.
The BJP, however, stated that the decision to bypass the Punjab Government was based on public demand to ensure faster relief to farmers.
- With inputs from agencies
