Chandigarh, September 29: The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Union Government’s “lack of response” in providing financial relief for flood-hit areas, demanding a special package of Rs 20,000 crore to support farmers, rebuild infrastructure, and restore livelihoods.
The resolution, moved on Friday during a two-day special session on flood rehabilitation, also called for the immediate release of Rs 1,600 crore previously announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Punjab. It criticised the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for “not responding” to repeated requests from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for a meeting, saying this “insults the people of the state” and prevents a comprehensive representation of the disaster’s impact. Two BJP members were absent when the resolution was passed.
Winding up the discussion on Monday, Mann said the state government will begin distributing flood relief compensation from October 15. “Teams of ministers will carry out the compensation exercise across Punjab. Farmers will receive Rs 20,000 per acre for 75 to 100 per cent crop loss, Rs 10,000 per acre for partial damage, and Rs 1.20 lakh for completely damaged houses,” Mann said, emphasising that the resolution reflects the Assembly’s unanimous demand for urgent action.
The resolution also included provisions for farmers whose land was affected by sand deposits or washed away by rivers. “Flood-hit families will start receiving compensation before Diwali. Farmers will get Rs 7,200 per acre for sand extraction and Rs 47,500 per hectare for land lost to rivers,” Mann added.
According to the resolution, the recent floods are among the worst since 1988, affecting more than 34 lakh people. “This House categorically condemns the lack of response and the failure of the BJP-led Union Government to sanction a financial package commensurate with the scale of the worst floods faced by Punjab in decades,” it said. The resolution further criticised the non-disbursement of token funds announced earlier, which has slowed state relief and rehabilitation operations.
The session also saw a heated exchange between Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. Cheema alleged that Bajwa promoted self-interest through land deals while blaming the government for delays in relief.
The resolution, passed unanimously, represents the Assembly’s united call for urgent support from the Centre and signals the state government’s commitment to fast-track relief and recovery for flood-affected communities.
