The North News
Chandigarh, September 29
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has unveiled a comprehensive relief package for farmers and residents affected by recent floods, promising financial support, crop compensation and rehabilitation measures. Addressing the assembly during a special session on Monday, Mann said farmers would receive ₹7,200 per acre for removing sand and silt deposited in fields under the Jisda Khet, Ohdi Ret (Whose Field, Their Sand) scheme. They will also be allowed to sell the extracted sand if they wish.
The Chief Minister announced enhanced compensation for crop losses, raising payouts for damage ranging from 26% to 100%. Farmers suffering total crop loss will now receive ₹20,000 per acre, with the state contributing nearly three-quarters of the amount — the highest such contribution in India. Compensation for damaged houses has also been increased to ₹1.2 lakh for fully destroyed homes and ₹35,100 for partially damaged ones. Mann said payments would begin on 15 October, before Diwali, and that ₹4.5 crore had already been released for waterlogged areas. He added that IIT Kharagpur, IIT Bangalore and Thapar University in Patiala had been engaged to improve weather prediction systems, with Thapar set to launch a satellite dedicated to meteorological forecasting.
The Chief Minister criticised the Union government for what he called inadequate support, describing the Prime Minister’s relief announcement of ₹1,600 crore as “a cruel joke” and accusing the Centre of practising “step-motherly treatment” toward Punjab. He vowed to raise the issue directly with Home Minister Amit Shah. Mann also accused the BJP of undermining democracy by staging a mock assembly session, and urged opposition leaders to unite with the government in supporting flood victims rather than politicising the crisis.
