Union Minister Shivraj Chouhan Assesses Flood Damage in Punjab

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan commenced his visit to the flood-affected regions of Punjab on September 4, 2023. His itinerary includes areas in the Amritsar district, where he engaged with farmers severely impacted by the flooding. Upon his arrival at the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria presented a detailed report outlining the current flood situation.

During his visit, Chouhan is scheduled to assess conditions in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Kapurthala districts. He aims to gather firsthand accounts from those affected, particularly focusing on the extensive damage to crops. In one notable interaction, a farmer demonstrated the significant harm done to his fields, which had been submerged in water. Chouhan even held up the ruined crop to highlight the extent of the destruction.

The report provided by Governor Kataria details the devastation across several districts, including Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur. From September 1 to 4, Kataria toured these areas, observing the widespread destruction of life, property, crops, and essential infrastructure. The governor also informed Chouhan about ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts being coordinated between the Punjab government, district administration, the Army, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other agencies.

Chouhan’s visit is part of a broader initiative to connect with flood-affected communities and evaluate their immediate needs. He plans to review the extent of crop damage in collaboration with state officials and discuss potential assistance measures for the farmers. He has assured a commitment from the Union government to provide necessary support for swift relief and rehabilitation efforts.

During discussions, Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal presented a memorandum to Chouhan, requesting Rs 2,000 crore in financial aid for initial recovery efforts within the Ajnala Assembly constituency. They also urged the release of the state’s pending Rs 60,000 crore from the Centre.

Punjab is grappling with one of the worst flood disasters in decades, primarily caused by swollen rivers—the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—alongside seasonal rivulets resulting from heavy rainfall in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Additional rainfall within Punjab has exacerbated the flooding, creating significant challenges for local residents.

The deluge has already claimed at least 37 lives and affected over 355,000 people. Furthermore, crops across 175,000 hectares of farmland have been lost to the floods, according to official reports. As the situation unfolds, both local and national authorities are focused on immediate and long-term recovery efforts to support the devastated communities.