Punjab Minister Urges PM Modi for Urgent Flood Relief in Punjab
In a strong appeal from Chandigarh, Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and pushed for quick help to flood-hit families across the state. Goyal called on the PM to show generosity by announcing at least Rs 25,000 crore in immediate compensation for the massive damages. He also demanded the speedy clearance of Rs 60,000 crore in pending dues to get Punjab back on its feet.
Goyal didn’t hold back on his frustration. He pointed out that the Prime Minister visited Punjab almost 25 days after the devastating floods struck, yet hasn’t said a word about the state’s suffering. "This delay is hurting us deeply," Goyal told reporters, highlighting how the floods have wrecked lives and livelihoods.
The floods in Punjab have caused widespread destruction. Early reports show about 4 lakh acres of crops completely ruined, hitting farmers hard. While no major breaches happened in the embankments managed by the Water Resources Department, overflowing rivers damaged these structures and other key infrastructure. Goyal stressed that big restoration projects will kick off as soon as the floodwaters recede, but they need huge financial backing from the central government.
The damage goes beyond fields. The Mandi Board, which handles agricultural markets, faced massive losses due to ruined roads. Around 3,300 school and college buildings got affected, thousands of electricity poles toppled over, and several transformers ended up underwater. "We need urgent funds to fix schools, power lines, and all these essential facilities right away," Goyal added.
Goyal accused the Union Government of treating Punjab unfairly, like a "step-motherly attitude." He noted that while other states get special relief packages fast after natural disasters, Punjab waits endlessly even for basic announcements. For instance, the Centre quickly sent aid to earthquake-hit Afghanistan, but Punjab’s flood victims are still in limbo. Social and charitable groups from across India are stepping up to help, yet the government focuses only on gathering reports despite the tragedy being out in the open for everyone to see.
The minister also slammed Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for linking the floods to mining activities. Goyal called these remarks "insensitive" and said they only add to Punjab’s pain, like rubbing salt in the wounds.
On funding hurdles, Goyal revealed that Punjab has about Rs 13,000 crore in its Disaster Management Fund, but strict central rules block its use. He urged the Union Government to ease these norms so the money can actually reach flood-affected people in Punjab.
Goyal didn’t stop there—he raised another example of discrimination. Despite finding potash reserves in Punjab’s border areas, the Centre hasn’t taken real steps to develop them. In comparison, Rajasthan got quick approvals for drilling at 150 sites and even held auctions. Punjab? Only nine sites got the green light. Goyal said he flagged this issue with the Union Minister months ago, but nothing has moved forward.
As Punjab battles the aftermath of these severe floods, Goyal’s plea underscores the urgent need for central support to rebuild and support flood relief efforts in the state.
