The North News
Chandigarh, September 4
Punjab’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has called on the Union Government to provide an immediate relief package and enhanced financial assistance to farmers hit by devastating floods. He also pressed for the immediate release of ₹8,000 crore from the stalled Rural Development Fund and Market Development Fund, along with a special package to revive Punjab’s economy.
Khudian, who accompanied Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his visit to the flood-affected districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala, said more than four lakh acres of farmland had been inundated. He described the impact as a threat to both Punjab’s rural economy and India’s food security. The minister said paddy fields — just weeks away from harvesting — were worst affected, while damage to livestock had deepened the crisis. “Punjab’s contribution to the nation’s food security cannot be overlooked,” he said, adding that the scale of destruction to crops and agricultural infrastructure was “unprecedented”.
Khudian criticised the existing compensation rate of ₹6,800 per acre, calling it “grossly inadequate” compared with losses faced by farmers. He urged the Centre to raise compensation to at least Rs 50,000 per acre.
