Chief Minister Demands Higher Flood Compensation for Punjab from Central Government

• Central Government should give Punjab its rightful due
• Previously fixed standards for compensation are not proper compared to people’s actual losses
• Reiterated that the State Government is making every possible effort to bring people out of this crisis

Ferozepur, Sept 2025 :Expressing serious concern over people getting negligible compensation for damages caused by floods, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today demanded from the Government of India that the standards for compensation be revised.

Touring flood-affected areas of Ferozepur by boat to review ground situation, the Chief Minister said that sufficient funds are available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), but under the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the present standards are insufficient to provide compensation according to the losses suffered by farmers, cattle rearers and other sections. He said the notified conditions are completely irrelevant compared to the farmers’ real losses. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in comparison to the increased cost of farming borne by farmers, the per-acre compensation being given for this natural disaster is very little.

While reviewing the situation with officials by boat in Gatti Rajo Ke village, the Chief Minister said that crops, which were ready for harvest, have suffered massive damage due to floods and farmers should get at least ₹50,000 per acre as compensation. He informed that he has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene to increase the ex-gratia for families of those who died due to floods from the current ₹4 lakh to ₹8 lakh. The Chief Minister said that flood-disabled persons presently get ₹74,000 for 40–60% disability and ₹2.5 lakh for more than 60% disability, which should be increased to ₹1.5 lakh and ₹5 lakh respectively.

The Chief Minister said that from time to time he has been demanding increase in compensation for farmers’ losses from the Central Government. He informed that the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister had called him yesterday and he had apprised them fully of the situation. The Chief Minister said that the State Government is engaged in reducing the hardships of flood victims and through relief and rescue operations, victims are being provided support.

The Chief Minister said that because of conditions imposed by the Central Government, obstacles are arising in helping the victims, which is very unfortunate. He said that in this hour of grief, the Central Government should adopt a liberal approach to provide compensation to flood victims. In this regard, a letter has already been written to the Prime Minister appealing to the Government of India to release Punjab’s withheld fund of ₹60,000 crore. The Chief Minister said that more than 1,300 villages and lakhs of people in Punjab have been affected by the recent floods.

The Chief Minister said that due to heavy rains and release of water from dams, flood-like conditions have arisen in more than 10 districts. He said that the situation is still worsening and may deteriorate further in coming days. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that at present three lakh acres of farmland are submerged, most of which had paddy crops that were to be harvested in a few weeks.

The Chief Minister said that there has also been huge loss of livestock, which will badly affect the rural economy, since most people’s livelihood is connected with dairy and animal husbandry. He said that the State Government is already making tireless efforts to ensure relief and rescue operations in flood-affected areas. For this, senior state government officers have been deployed in affected areas so that real losses can be assessed and relief operations carried out properly.

The Chief Minister ordered the district administration to assess the losses of villagers so that they can be given appropriate compensation. He said that the State Government is making every possible effort to save people in this crisis and to ensure relief and rehabilitation. Expressing concern over the massive loss caused by this natural disaster, the Chief Minister said that this is the biggest loss of property and crops in recent history.

The Chief Minister said that he himself is monitoring the relief works and no stone is being left unturned to help people in this difficult time. He said that Punjabis have the spirit to face every challenge strongly and the State Government is standing shoulder to shoulder with the people to overcome this difficulty. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has made the country self-reliant in grain production and now the time has come that the State gets its rightful due.

Team Maverick.