PM Modi came to Punjab to take stock of floods.
Amidst the severe floods in Punjab, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas on 9 September. He held a meeting with officers, farmers and NDRF personnel in Gurdaspur.
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He then declared a relief package of Rs 1,600 crore for the state. Along with this, by mentioning 12 thousand crore disaster management funds, a new debate has been started in the state.
Politics has intensified with the package of Rs 1600 crore declared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for flood relief to Punjab. Cabinet Minister Barinder Goyal said that the state had made three big demands from the Center- a relief package of 20 thousand crores, arrears of 60 thousand crores and the conditions related to the use of 12 thousand crores. But instead of focusing on these, the Center gave just 1600 crores.
Punjab Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian also expressed displeasure and said that when he asked the PM to reduce the amount, the PM reverse that you may not know Hindi. Mundiya says that this statement and giving so low relief is like sprinkling salt on the wounds of Punjabis.
Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab chief Aman Arora said that the loss in the initial assessment is 20 thousand crores, but the announcement was only 1600 crores. Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Wading called it a “cumin in the camel’s mouth” and taunted that the artists and religious institutions have spent crores of rupees themselves.
However, Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu clarified that this is just immediate relief. He assured that Punjab would be given further help after the entire assessment of the loss is fully assessed.
Know on what basis Punjab asked for 20 thousand crores This time the severe floods in Punjab have shook the entire state. On the basis of this, the Punjab government had demanded a relief package of 20 thousand crores from the Center. All 23 districts are in the grip of floods and about 2 thousand 97 villages have been submerged. So far, more than 3 lakh 88 thousand 92 people have been affected, of which a large number are from farmers and rural areas. Flood water has also caused heavy damage to standing crops in the fields.
The crops in about 1 lakh 91 thousand 926 hectares have been completely submerged. Human life has also suffered a big loss. According to official data, 52 people have died in 15 districts so far, while three people are still missing. A large -scale rescue operations are being conducted by the administration and relief agencies and so far 23 thousand 206 people have been evacuated to safe places.
View of floods in Punjab.
2.52 lakh animal affected So far, 504 cows, 73 sheep and 160 pigs have been killed in 14 districts due to floods in Punjab. Animal Husbandry Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudiya said that 18 thousand 304 poultry birds have also died due to collapse of poultry sheds in Gurdaspur, Ropar and Fazilka. Overall, about 2.52 lakh animals and 5.88 lakh poultry birds have been affected by floods.
481 teams have been deployed for relief operations, through which 22 thousand 534 animals have been treated so far. 24×7 control rooms have been installed at the state and district levels to help immediately in emergency situations. The department has distributed 12,170 quintals of fodder, 5,090 quintal green fodder, drought fodder and Silese affected areas.
Apart from this, urromin lymps are also being provided to increase the immunity of animals. Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, Rahul Bhandari said that so far 31.50 lakh rupees have been released for the treatment of animals.
Broken houses broken due to floods in Punjab.
What is possible with a relief package of 1600 crores According to Senior Journalist Jasbir Patti, the relief package of Rs 1,600 crore for Punjab has given immediate help to the floods. This money will first help those families who have been killed or injured in their own disaster.
Farmers will also get some relief, because the state government has already decided that a compensation of 20 thousand rupees per acre will be given on the ruined crop. In such a situation, small farmers will get partial help from this amount.
Apart from this, the work of repairing schools, hospitals, government buildings and broken roads and bridges can also be started with this package, but this amount is less.
The Prime Minister has asked the Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and other central schemes to release money further so that rescue and relief work can be done fast.
Loss more, 1600 crores less According to Jasbir Patti- The package of Rs 1,600 crore for Punjab by the Central Government is still being considered as initial or immediate relief. The Prime Minister has described it as the first step to provide immediate help.
But the state government says that the real loss is much more than this. According to his initial estimate, there has been a loss of about 13 thousand 800 crores due to floods. In this, crops, houses, roads, bridges and other necessary infrastructure have been severely affected.
At present, the entire figure of houses collapsing and breaking of roads and plants has not been revealed. When the teams from the center will conduct a detailed survey of the loss and submit their reports, then further help will be decided. This is the reason that the state government and local leaders are constantly saying that the existing package will be able to meet only immediate needs, but Punjab will need more financial assistance to fully recover.
Flood -sighted fields in Punjab.
Government’s attention was limited to farmers, industry getting ignorant Bandish Jindal, President of the World MSME Forum, said that till now both the state and the central government are thinking of farmers. But the loss is even higher. There are 200 shelters in the border area itself, which suffer from floods. Apart from this, the owners of small shopkeepers, hole sales and industries are also suffering from floods. No decision has been taken about them yet.
Punjab gives more than 60 thousand crore revenue to the Center every year. But now when Punjab needs, 1600 crores were given.
Government should take immediate steps for MSME sector Bandish Jindal said that every small big shopkeeper and industrialist have a bank loan, they should be postponed. Like the fields, the industry should be bounded. The loan of the needy should be forgiven. Installation of up to 6 months should be exempted.
Income tax date should be done further The government has set the last date for paying income tax on 30 September. But how can the industry, rock and shopkeeper be flooded, how can they pay income tax till 30 September. Their records etc. have all deteriorated in flood waters. Computers have deteriorated. Immediately the government should give exemption till December 30.
1600 crores inadequate, add 20-20 thousand to farmers Bandish Jindal said that 1600 crore given by the Center is insufficient. According to an estimate, 1300 km of roads in Punjab deteriorated. Homes, shops and crops deteriorated. 1600 crores is insufficient for this. Farmers are given 2-2 thousand under Kisan Nidhi. Farmers should immediately give 20 thousand under this, so that they can use it when they need money.
