Sukhbir Badal, the president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has written a strong letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for more financial help for Punjab’s flood victims. During PM Modi’s recent visit to the flood-hit areas in Punjab, the central government announced Rs 1,600 crore in aid. But Badal says this amount isn’t enough to cover the massive damage from the floods.
In his letter, Badal explained that the floods have caused huge losses to crops, homes, and livelihoods across Punjab. “The scale of destruction demands much more support,” he said. He pointed out that floods have submerged lakhs of acres of farmland, destroyed thousands of houses, and killed countless livestock. Punjab has been battling these floods for over 20 days now, and the people need urgent relief.
Badal also pushed for a one-time loan waiver for farmers in the flood-affected areas. “It will take farmers two to three years to recover from this disaster,” he noted. “The government should step in to help them get back on their feet.” This demand highlights the ongoing struggles of Punjab farmers facing crop loss due to floods.
He didn’t hold back in criticizing the AAP government in Punjab either. Badal accused them of failing to use the Rs 12,000 crore Disaster Management Fund for flood relief and rehabilitation. “The AAP government’s negligence made the suffering worse,” Badal said in his statement. “They didn’t release any funds when people needed them most, and this shows they couldn’t even present Punjab’s case properly to the Centre.”
According to Badal, the AAP government’s inaction led to weak embankments that breached, wiping out paddy crops on thousands of acres. “The state left people to fend for themselves, but brave Punjabis came together to help each other during this crisis,” he added.
On the compensation front, Badal questioned the AAP government’s policy for crop loss aid. He demanded that they make the full details public right away. In the past, the government limited help to just five acres per farmer, which many saw as unfair. Badal also called for compensation for farmers growing crops on river beds and ‘kutcha’ lands, as they were ignored in the 2019 and 2023 floods.
He stressed that aid should cover more than just crops. “Farmers and families need compensation for damaged tubewells, borewells, houses, livestock, and household items,” Badal urged. This push aims to provide comprehensive flood relief in Punjab for all affected assets.
Finally, Badal highlighted the plight of agricultural labourers, or ‘khet mazdoor’. He called it shocking that the government’s compensation plan excludes them. “These workers from disadvantaged communities have lost their livelihoods and homes to the floods,” he said. “They deserve priority compensation to rebuild their lives.”
Badal’s demands come at a critical time as Punjab deals with the aftermath of severe flooding. With calls for enhanced central aid, loan waivers, and fair compensation policies, the focus remains on supporting flood victims in Punjab and ensuring no one is left behind.
