Amritsar, October 14 — Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said his government “won’t beg” for flood relief from the Centre, accusing it of “illegally stalling” Punjab’s rightful share of the Rural Development Fund (RDF).
Addressing an event to distribute compensation to flood-hit families at Bhala village in Ajnala, Mann said that instead of helping the state recover from the recent floods, the Union Government was “unfortunately adopting dilly-delaying tactics”.
“We are not seeking mercy from the Union Government but only demanding our legitimate share in the RDF and other funds that have been illegally withheld,” the Chief Minister said. “Punjab will not beg for funds from the Centre.”
The RDF — a cess levied on the purchase or sale of agricultural produce procured by the state for the Centre — is used for the construction and repair of rural infrastructure. The state and the Centre have been at odds for months over the release of these funds.
Mann’s remarks come days after the state government submitted its final estimate of flood damage to the Centre, pegging total losses at ₹13,832 crore. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced ₹1,600 crore in relief, which the state government termed “inadequate”.
State Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, who was also present at the event, said Punjab had “not received a single rupee” of the announced relief so far. “Standing crops over 3.5 lakh acres were destroyed, yet it did not move the Centre. As against our demand of ₹20,000 crore, they sanctioned a meagre ₹1,600 crore, which has not been received till today,” Mundian said.
