Chandigarh, August 31
In the wake of recent floods, the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is actively engaged in a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation effort. The Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers are conducting continuous tours of affected areas to ensure that necessary aid reaches residents and to personally oversee the administration’s relief operations.
Members of the government and key officials have been mobilizing resources and providing on-the-ground support. Member of Parliament Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal has approved ₹50 lakh from his MPLAD fund for flood relief and rehabilitation in Hoshiarpur district. This funding will be directed toward reinforcing and repairing the Dhussi Dam embankment in the Mukerian constituency and the Kukran Dam in the Chabbewal constituency, both of which were significantly damaged by the recent floods.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited the Khanauri Headworks to assess the situation of the Ghaggar River, noting that the water level is currently at 743.7 feet, well below the danger mark of 748 feet. He assured the public that the situation is under control and appealed to the Union Government to urge the Haryana government to withdraw the stay on widening the Ghaggar River as this would allow the Punjab government to broaden and strengthen the river’s banks, enhancing the safety of its citizens.
Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, visited the Ajnala constituency to review ongoing relief work. The ministers toured the most severely affected village, Ghonewal, reaching it by tractor amidst heavy rain. Moved by the devastation, Arora affirmed the government’s commitment to compensating residents for their losses.
Similarly, Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur personally distributed relief materials to flood-affected individuals near the Chand Bhan drain in Fazilka district. She said that over ₹70 lakh in relief supplies, including 4,558 ration kits and 2,017 bags of cattle feed, have been distributed in the Fazilka constituency. Sanitary pads and mosquito nets were also provided to women, while old-age homes have been opened for affected senior citizens, and all necessary facilities are being provided at relief camps.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, along with MLA Gurdeep Singh Randhawa, visited the flood-affected areas of Gurdaspur district. The Health Minister visited relief camps set up by the district administration in villages Narhawali, Kalanor, Machrala, Pakhoke, and Dera Baba Nanak to review the health services being provided to people by the Health Department.
Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh, accompanied by Tanda MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill, inspected the Dhussi Dam embankment on the Beas River bridge connecting Tanda and Sri Hargobindpur. He instructed officials to take immediate steps to strengthen and secure the Dhussi. He also visited a relief camp in Miyani village to assess the needs of affected families.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, during “Sada MLA Sade Vich ” program, announced that a long-standing issue of villages near the Bhakhra Dam being hit by floods has been resolved. He said that the Punjab government has spent ₹15 crore to build spurs and strengthen the banks of the Sutlej River in the Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency, protecting the area from floods this year. He is regularly monitoring villages of Beleyan at Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency.
The work of distributing relief materials is continuously going on in the flood affected areas of Bhoa assembly constituency of Pathankot district. Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak Cabinet Minister Punjab today distributed relief materials in villages Bamiyal, Palah, Chak Amir and other villages of Bamiyal area.
In the Patti constituency, Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar toured flood-affected areas, visiting villages like Jalloke, Kot Buddha, Bhaowal, and Rasulpur. He provided essential items, including ration, medicine, tarpaulins, and fodder for livestock, to the residents.
Following Chief Minister Mann’s instructions, Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha also visited the flood-affected areas of Ajnala and Ramdas in Amritsar district. He reviewed the arrangements at the relief center in Chamiari village, accompanied by senior officials, including Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department Krishan Kumar, Administrative Secretaries Kamal Kishore Yadav, Varun Roojam, and Basant Garg.
