Chandigarh, September 12:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said that the state government will ensure compensation to all the flood victims across the state within 45 days.
Chairing a high level meeting here at his official residence, the Chief Minister said that a few days ago, he had announced that his government will give the highest compensation in the country — ₹20,000 per acre — to farmers for crop damage. He said that as a matter of fact this is the highest compensation in the history of Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that under previous governments, it used to take years to actually receive the compensation and the people already distressed by crop loss, had to run around government offices for compensation.
However, the Chief Minister underlined that it is extremely important that compensation reaches everyone as quickly as possible adding that being a son of farmer he understands the agony of the food growers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that until every single farmer receives their compensation for the crop damage, he will not sleep peacefully. Discussing the complete plan, he ordered that that special “Girdawari” (crop damage assessment) should start from tomorrow, (September 13) and the entire process will be completed within 45 days.
The Chief Minister said that, henceforth, the farmers will start receiving their compensation cheques in hand adding that officers from non-flooded areas will be deployed in flood-affected villages so that the assessment work can be completed quickly. He said that Officers will go village to village, inspect all fields, prepare their reports matter and no matter what the crop is — if there is damage, compensation will be given. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that after the report is made, farmers will be given one week to raise any objections, so that any error in the report can be rectified.
The Chief Minister said that the entire process will be completed within 45 days, and compensation cheques will be distributed to the farmers. He said that in the villages where the entire crop has been destroyed, this process will be completed in just one month, and cheques will be given earlier. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as compared to times when it used to take a whole year to disburse the compensation, it will now be completed in a month or a month and a half as an honest government is serving the people.
Similarly, the Chief Minister said that those houses which have been damaged will also be given compensated by the government. He said that those people whose entire house has collapsed will receive ₹1,20,000, and those with partial damage will get ₹40,000. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Earlier governments used to give only ₹6,800 for partial house damage, but now this amount has been increased to ₹40,000.
Similarly, the Chief Minister said that those people whose livestock were swept away or died in the floods will also be compensated. Citing the example, he said that if someone has lost a cow or buffalo, the government will give ₹37,500, if a goat died in the flood, ₹4,000 will be given and all other animals will also be compensated as per rules including bulls, horses, poultry, fisheries and others. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that compensation for house or livestock loss should start from September 15 and must also be completed within 45 days.
The Chief Minister said that the Officers should go village to village, assess damages, and prepare their reports adding that if anyone has an objection to the report, they will have one week to get it corrected. Overall, he said that the entire process will be completed within 45 days, and people will receive their compensation cheques in hand. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that This entire process will be monitored daily by him personally and if any officer is found doing anything wrong or not working as per the timeline, strict action will be taken.
The Chief Minister said that Some families have lost their loved ones in this flood adding that though we can’t bring them back, the government is trying its best to ensure no delay in compensation. So far, he said that 55 deaths have been confirmed, out of which cheques have been issued to 42 families adding that in this hour of crisis the state government stands with people. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann also enquired about ground realities and water inflow adding he asked the officials to daily monitor to plugging of the breaches.
The Chief Minister also enquired from the Deputy Commissioners, who joined the meeting virtually, about the ground realities after the devastating floods, which were witnessed for first time in last four decades. He also directed them to clear the Mandis in their respective districts for procurement till September 16 for facilitating the farmers.
The Chief Minister also said that the state government will take up the issue of relaxing the norms to cover the house loss immediately with the Government of India. He also asked the officers to organise Medical Camps in every villages and conduct fogging too adding that private doctors should also be roped in for the philanthropic cause of serving the masses. Bhagwant Singh Mann also asked the health department to take water samples from flood affected areas so that supply of potable drinking water can be ensured in them.
The Chief Minister said that the state government will flag issue with GOI to declare Punjab as Severe Natural Disaster affected state so that the state will receive extra funds to cover the loss. He said that Electricity Supply has been restored and work on repair of Roads and other Infrastructure projects is going on. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann asked them to work in a missionary mode to give a healing touch to the flood victims and the farmers.
Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Verma were also present during the meeting.
