CHANDIGARH, Sept 4: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday visited flood-hit areas in Punjab’s Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts, where he interacted with people, including farmers, affected by the deluge.
After riding a tractor, Chouhan also entered an inundated field in Gurdaspur and checked the paddy crop damaged by the floodwater.
Earlier in Amritsar, he stated that two central teams are also visiting Punjab to assess the situation arising out of floods and will submit a report to the Centre.
Chouhan was accompanied by senior BJP leaders including Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and national general secretary Tarun Chugh, state BJP leader Subhash Sharma.
Upon his arrival, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Thursday submitted a detailed report on the flood situation to Chouhan at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar.
Chouhan arrived at the Amritsar airport earlier in the day and is visiting some of the flood-hit areas in the state.
Interacting with reporters in Amritsar, Chouhan said Punjabis have always been at the forefront when it comes to serving the country and humanity.
“But today, Punjab is facing a difficult time due to floods and several villages are impacted, disrupting normal life. Fields are inundated,” he said.
The Centre fully stands with the people of Punjab in this difficult hour, he said.
“I have been sent to Punjab by the prime minister. We will take stock of the situation, talk to the people,” he added.
To assess the situation arising out of floods, two central teams have also arrived in Punjab on Thursday, Chouhan said.
Officials from various departments are part of these central teams, including agriculture, rural development, roads, energy, finance and Jal Shakti, the union minister said.
They will assess the situation and give a detailed report to the Centre, he said.
Chouhan initially reached flood-hit areas in Ajnala in Amritsar district and interacted with farmers. Interacting with a farmer in an inundated field, Chouhan took stock of the situation.
Later, he reached Dharamkot Randhawa village in Gurdaspur district. He was riding a tractor being driven by Punjab BJP chief Jakhar.
He then waded through more than knee-deep inundated field and checked the paddy crop.
“Loss is visible. The crop is completely damaged. Fields are inundated,” he said.
He further said the silt that the Ravi River brought has been deposited in fields, and there will be a crisis for the next crop.
However, he said the government would do everything for farmers and people.
Earlier, Governor Kataria submitted the report on the flood situation in Amritsar, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Ferozepur districts, officials said.
After visiting all five flood-affected districts from September 1 to 4, the governor apprised Chouhan of the ground realities in these areas, highlighting the extensive damage caused to life, property, crops, and infrastructure due to floods.
He also briefed him about ongoing relief and rehabilitation measures being carried out jointly by the Punjab government, district administration, Army, NDRF, and other agencies.
Chouhan is on a tour of Punjab to meet flood-affected people and assess their immediate requirements. Chouhan would review the extent of crop damage with state officials and chalk out measures to extend assistance to farmers.
He has assured full support from the union government in providing necessary assistance to the state for speedy relief and rehabilitation measures.
Later, Punjab Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal met Chouhan and submitted a memorandum to him, seeking Rs 2,000 crore as financial assistance in the first phase for the losses caused by floods in the Ajnala assembly constituency.
They also demanded the release of the state’s “pending” Rs 60,000 crore from the Centre.
Punjab is currently facing one of its worst flood disasters in decades. The floods are a result of swollen rivers, the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, along with seasonal rivulets caused by heavy rainfall in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
Additional heavy rains in Punjab have intensified the flooding situation, aggravating the challenges faced by residents.
The deluge has claimed 37 lives so far and impacted over 3.55 lakh people.
Crops over 1.75 lakh hectares of land have perished in the floods, officials stated. (PTI)
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