CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday called on the kind intervention of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought a special package for the state in view of massive damage caused due to recent unprecedented floods.
The Chief Minister, who called on Amit Shah at his residence here today, said that the relief of Rs 1600 crore announced by centre was miniscule in wake of grave loss suffered by state adding he also sought upward revision in norms for awarding compensation to the flood victims from SDRF/NDRF. He apprised the Union Home Minister that Punjab has faced one of its worst floods in decades, affecting more than 20 lakh people across 2614 villages, with 6.87 lakh displaced. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the disaster has caused widespread losses as more than 4.8 lakh acres of crops destroyed, more than 17, 000 houses damaged, over 2.5 lakh livestock affected and major damage to 4657 km of rural roads, 485 bridges, 1, 417 culverts and 190 mandis.
The Chief Minister said that the preliminary estimate of losses stands at Rs. 13, 832 crores, covering agriculture, infrastructure, health, education and livelihoods. He said that the current SDRF/NDRF norms are grossly inadequate to address the actual scale of damages adding that input subsidy where crop loss is 33% and above has been fixed as Rs 6800 per acre by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that paying such a petty amount would be unfair to the farmers as the crops were almost at the harvesting stage, so Rs.50, 000 per acre should be paid to the farmers.
The Chief Minister said that he had already flagged the issue with the Ministry adding that as no response was there so the State has enhanced the compensation at its level by contributing from the State Budget. He said that in a healing touch the flood victims the state government has decided to enhance the compensation of 26 to 33 percent crop loss to Rs 10, 000 per acre from existing Rs 2000 per acre under SDRF norms, 33 to 75 percent crop loss to Rs 10, 000 from existing Rs 6800 per acre and for 75 to 100 percent crop loss compensation has been increased to Rs 20, 000 per acre again from existing Rs 6800.
The Chief Minister said that in the Rs 20, 000 per acre compensation being given to the farmers the state government will contribute Rs 14, 900 which is the highest in the country. He said that the compensation for fully damaged/ destroyed houses and severely damaged houses should be doubled from existing Rs.1.20 lakh per house in plain areas to Rs 2.40 lakh per house. Likewise, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for partially damaged houses (other than huts) the compensation should be Rs.50, 000 per house instead of existing Rs 6500 per house for pucca houses and Rs.10, 000 per house instead of existing Rs 4000 per house for kutcha houses.
The Chief Minister also said that for Cattle sheds attached with house Rs 10, 000 should be given as compensation instead of existing Rs 3000. He further said that Punjab has faced the worst unprecedented floods this year since 1988 and as per the initial assessment, this natural calamity has resulted in the submergence of nearly 1, 900 villages, causing severe distress to the farming community. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the brunt of the calamity has been borne by the farmers, with crop damage reported on approximately 4 lakh acres of sown land.
The Chief Minister said that Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Fazilka, Kapurthala and Ferozepur are the most affected districts so relaxation may kindly be extended to the state for KMS 2025-26. He said that the Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, may relax the specifications of paddy for procurement during KMS 2025-26 as and when reported on priority. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is imperative to ensure that farmers do not suffer additional hardship over and above the losses already inflicted by the natural calamity.