Chandigarh, Oct 4: The Punjab government is expediting a special girdawari (crop survey) to assess losses from the August-September floods, aiming to complete the process by October 7. Once finalized, affected farmers will be eligible for compensation of ₹20,000 per acre.
Official sources said preliminary assessments indicate extensive damage across the state: 1.58 lakh hectares of paddy, 2,902 hectares of maize, 12,758 hectares of cotton, and 11,896 hectares of sugarcane were affected. District-wise, Gurdaspur recorded the highest loss at 40,153 hectares, followed by Amritsar at 29,523 hectares.
Farmers whose crops, including horticulture and annual plantation crops such as sugarcane, suffered over 33% damage will receive the full compensation. The Centre will contribute ₹6,800 per acre, while the state government will provide ₹13,200 per acre.
“The first round of special girdawari has already been conducted by patwaris in flood-affected areas. These assessments will now be verified by kanungos and tehsildars in the districts,” said Anurag Verma, Additional Chief Secretary Revenue. “We are aiming to complete the girdawari by October 7. Once done, the reports will be published and distributed to village sarpanches, panches, and lambardars.”
For the first time, the state is giving farmers the opportunity to file objections if they were left out of the assessment. The initiative follows Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s directive to ensure that small and marginal farmers receive compensation, addressing past instances where influential landlords often benefitted disproportionately.
Verma added that lists detailing the damage have already been published and distributed in over 300 villages, ensuring transparency and wider awareness among the affected communities.
