**Punjab Assembly Unanimously Passes Resolution Seeking Rs 20,000 Crore Special Package for Flood Relief**
Chandigarh: The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution demanding a special financial package of Rs 20,000 crore from the Centre to support farmers, rebuild infrastructure, and restore livelihoods in the flood-ravaged regions of the state. The resolution also criticized the BJP-led Central Government for its “lack of response and failure” to sanction such a package.
The House further demanded the immediate release of Rs 1,600 crore relief funds already announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, the two BJP MLAs were absent when the resolution, which was moved on Friday, was passed.
The two-day special session, which concluded on Monday, was convened to discuss the recent devastating floods caused by the swollen Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas rivers, compounded by torrential rains in the region.
**Relief Measures Announced by Punjab Government**
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the state government will begin distributing relief aid to farmers and affected residents from October 15. Teams of ministers are set to be deployed across the state to oversee the disbursement of compensation. Farmers suffering 75% to 100% crop damage in the flood-hit areas will receive Rs 20,000 per acre as compensation.
**Heated Exchange in Assembly**
Earlier in the day, the Assembly faced an adjournment following a heated exchange between Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. Cheema alleged that while Bajwa baselessly accused the government of failing to provide relief, he was himself promoting self-interest through land deals.
**Bajwa Criticizes AAP Over Flood Preparedness**
In a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bajwa accused the party of misleading the Assembly and the people of Punjab regarding crucial flood preparedness measures. He specifically targeted AAP minister Barinder Goyal, who had earlier claimed in the Assembly that all flood mitigation preparations had been completed by July 14.
“The facts prove otherwise,” Bajwa stated, highlighting that on July 22, 2025, the Chief Engineer (Vigilance) of the Water Resources Department wrote to the Chief Engineer (Drainage) to start reviewing the necessity of flood protection works—a process that had not even begun at the site despite two-thirds of the monsoon season having already passed.
Bajwa also noted that executive engineers from several districts admitted that no flood mitigation or drainage repair work had started in critical areas including Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Pathankot, and Ferozepur.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/punjab-assembly-slams-centre-for-lack-of-response-on-flood-relief
