Chandigarh/ Nangal, September 13
Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains conducted a special tour of flood-affected areas in the Sri Anandpur Sahib constituency on Saturday late evening, vowing to provide full compensation to all affected residents.
The ministers condemned the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for politicizing the tragedy and called on the Union Government to release outstanding dues to the state.
During the visit, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema met with local residents and assured them that the Punjab Government would compensate for all damages to homes, livestock, and crops. “We will ensure that every loss is compensated,” said Cheema while adding, “The Punjab Chief Minister is serious about this issue, and the state government is fully committed to providing relief.”
Finance Minister Cheema also criticized the BJP, accusing them of doing politics on dead bodies during a difficult time. He challenged the Union Government to make its figures public regarding the 12000 crore of SDRF, while adding that the Punjab government has already released its own data.
Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, who has been actively involved in relief efforts for several weeks, detailed the ongoing work. He highlighted the damage to roads, bridges, and temporary embankments, explaining that the government is focused on temporary repairs while planning for long-term reconstruction.
“We are committed to providing all possible help for the repair and construction of bridges, roads, and embankments,” said Bains while adding that the Punjab Government is also providing essential relief materials, including furniture and medical services, to affected families.
The ministers inspected several severely damaged areas, including Singhpur Plasi, Shiv Singh Bela, Harsa Bela, Bibhor Sahib, Pinghwari-Khingri, and the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Nangal. They traveled by tractor-trolley to reach some of the most remote villages, where they met with local residents and offered their full support.
Finance Minister Cheema also pointed out that the Union Government owes Punjab approximately Rs. 60,000 crore in GST and RDF arrears. He urged the Union Government to release this amount, along with an additional Rs. 20,000 crore in interim relief, adding that the meagre amount provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be enough to heal the state’s wounds.
Both ministers emphasized the need to channelize rivers in the region to prevent future flooding.
The Ministers said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered a special survey of damaged crops, and officials are already on the ground to assess the full extent of the damage. They further added that the medical and veterinary teams are also working in the affected villages to provide health services, and the government has committed to covering the treatment costs for patients with serious illnesses.
