Harpal Singh Cheema and Harjot Singh Bains vow full compensation for victims
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains toured flood-affected areas in Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency, assuring residents of full compensation and criticizing the BJP for politicizing the tragedy.
Punjab Government Promises Full Support
During their visit on Saturday evening, Finance Minister Cheema met affected families and pledged immediate relief. He stressed that the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, was determined to ensure no resident suffered without assistance.
“We will ensure that every loss, whether to homes, crops, or livestock, is compensated,” Cheema told villagers. He reassured them that relief operations were being monitored at the highest level.
Cheema also condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for, in his words, “doing politics on dead bodies.” He urged the Union Government to release long-pending funds owed to Punjab. According to him, the state had already shared its financial data transparently, but the Centre had failed to act on the release of disaster relief funds.
Damage Assessment and Relief Operations
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, who has been closely coordinating relief measures, highlighted the destruction of roads, bridges, and embankments. He stated that the government had started temporary repairs while preparing long-term reconstruction plans.
“We are committed to repairing and reconstructing all damaged infrastructure,” Bains said. He added that the government had distributed essential supplies, including furniture and medical kits, to families who lost their belongings.
The ministers, traveling by tractor-trolley to remote villages, personally inspected damage in Singhpur Plasi, Shiv Singh Bela, Harsa Bela, Bibhor Sahib, Pinghwari-Khingri, and the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Nangal. Their visit aimed to assure residents that the administration was working on both immediate and structural solutions.
Call for Central Funds and Accountability
Finance Minister Cheema underscored that the Union Government owed Punjab nearly ₹60,000 crore in GST and RDF arrears, along with an additional ₹12,000 crore in disaster relief funds. He demanded an interim relief package of ₹20,000 crore, arguing that the small amount announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was insufficient.
He said releasing pending dues was not just a financial necessity but a moral responsibility of the Centre. “The Centre’s neglect has worsened the crisis,” he emphasized.
Both ministers also stressed the urgent need to channelize rivers in the flood-prone region to minimize future risks. This step, they said, was essential for long-term protection of lives, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Medical and Agricultural Support
The ministers announced that Chief Minister Mann had ordered a special survey of damaged crops. Teams were already deployed in affected villages to assess losses and calculate compensation.
Additionally, medical and veterinary units were providing free treatment to villagers and livestock. For patients with serious health conditions, the Punjab Government pledged to bear the full cost of treatment.
“We are not only repairing physical damage but also ensuring people’s health and livelihoods are protected,” Bains said.
Political Row Over Flood Relief
While the Punjab Government continues relief operations, the political debate over financial aid has intensified. State leaders accuse the BJP of exploiting the tragedy for political mileage, while residents demand faster fund allocation.
Local communities welcomed the ministers’ visit, though concerns remain about the long-term rebuilding process. Many residents expressed hope that promised compensation would reach them swiftly, without bureaucratic delays.
The Punjab Government has vowed to continue ground-level engagement until normalcy returns, with ministers, officials, and local volunteers actively participating in relief work.