Punjab Assembly seeks Rs 20,000 crore flood relief package, slams Centre for ignoring state’s pleas
PTC Web Desk: The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution seeking a special flood relief package of Rs 20,000 crore from the Centre to compensate farmers, rebuild damaged infrastructure and restore livelihoods in flood-affected regions of the state.
The House strongly criticised the BJP-led Union Government for its “failure and lack of response” in addressing Punjab’s crisis. It also urged the immediate release of Rs 1,600 crore in relief aid announced earlier by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the state.
The resolution further expressed anger at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for “ignoring repeated requests” from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for a meeting, calling it an “insult” to the people of Punjab and a denial of the opportunity to present the true scale of the disaster.
The motion was originally tabled on Friday and was cleared after a detailed debate on Punjab’s rehabilitation plan. Notably, the two BJP members of the Assembly were absent when the resolution was passed.
CM Mann announces compensation plan
On the final day of the special two-day session, CM Bhagwant Mann assured that compensation distribution will begin from October 15. Teams of ministers will travel across Punjab to oversee the process.
Crop damage relief:
Rs 20,000 per acre for 75–100% crop loss
Rs 10,000 per acre for 26–75% crop damage
Houses: Rs 1.20 lakh for completely damaged homes
Sand removal: Farmers will get Rs 7,200 per acre for clearing sand deposits from fields
Land erosion: Rs 47,500 per hectare for farms washed away by rivers
The CM also confirmed that a special girdawari (loss assessment) is being conducted and flood-hit families will start receiving compensation before Diwali.
Punjab’s worst floods since 1988
The resolution highlighted that the state has been ravaged by its worst floods in decades, widely compared to the catastrophic deluge of 1988 that affected over 34 lakh people. The Assembly urged the Union Government to recognise the crisis and release a substantial financial aid package without delay.
Earlier in the day, the House witnessed heated exchanges between Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. Cheema accused Bajwa of serving personal interests through land deals while criticising the government’s relief measures.
- With inputs from agencies
