CM Mann Reviews Flood Situation in Ferozepur
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday toured flood-affected villages in Ferozepur district to take stock of the damage caused by heavy rains and overflowing rivers. Travelling in a boat with senior officials, he directly interacted with villagers and assessed the devastation caused to standing crops, livestock, and homes.
The Chief Minister expressed serious concern over the “meagre and unrealistic” relief norms prescribed by the Union Government. He said that while funds under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) were available, the current central guidelines were grossly inadequate to cover the scale of losses suffered by farmers and rural families.
“Per acre compensation for farmers is too small, especially after the steep rise in input costs. The notified norms fail to reflect ground realities,” he said.
Call for Upward Revision of Relief Norms
During his visit to Gatti Rajo Ki village, the Chief Minister said that floods had destroyed crops almost ready for harvest. He demanded that farmers should receive at least ₹50,000 per acre in compensation.
Mann said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to enhance ex-gratia payments:
- From ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh for families of deceased victims.
- From ₹74,000 to ₹1.5 lakh for disabilities between 40–60%.
- From ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh for disabilities above 60%.
He reiterated that the Centre must adopt a liberal approach and release pending funds of ₹60,000 crore due to Punjab, which could support relief and rehabilitation work.
Widespread Flood Impact Across Punjab
According to government assessments, the recent floods have impacted more than 1,300 villages across 10 districts, affecting lakhs of people. Nearly three lakh acres of farmland, mostly paddy fields, remain submerged just weeks before harvest.
The Chief Minister noted that apart from crops, the floods had caused large-scale livestock losses, further crippling rural households dependent on dairy and animal husbandry.
“Punjab has made India self-reliant in food production. At this crucial hour, the state deserves its rightful support,” Mann said.
State Government Relief Efforts
Mann stressed that the Punjab government is committed to helping flood victims. Senior officers have been deployed to monitor rescue and relief measures. District administrations have been directed to carry out meticulous surveys to assess property, crop, and livestock losses, ensuring timely compensation.
He said relief camps, medical facilities, and rescue teams had been mobilised across affected regions. “No stone will be left unturned in helping our people. The spirit of Punjabis is strong, and with government support, we will overcome this crisis,” the CM added.
Direct Appeal to the Centre
The Chief Minister also revealed that both the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister had spoken to him regarding the situation. He apprised them of the urgent need to revise norms so that compensation reflects the true scale of destruction.
“The Union government’s riders are preventing states from fully supporting victims. It is time to adopt realistic and humane standards,” he said, urging Delhi to act swiftly.