Punjab tells Centre to release relief funds

New Delhi: Punjab's AAP government has urged the Centre to look beyond politics and release relief funds for the state, which is facing its worst floods since 1988. Heavy monsoon rains have affected normal life in the state and inundated large swathes of crop land.

"The Centre needs to announce relief without any conditions. What is happening with Punjab is wrong," Punjab water resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal told ET. His remark came in the backdrop of the Centre's decision to form inter-ministerial central teams to assess the damage caused by heavy rains.

Goyal said Punjab saw floods in 1988 and 2023, but the water discharge has been the highest this year. In 1988, the water discharge was 11.20 lakh cusecs, but this time it has already recorded 14.11 lakh cusecs, he said.


"We have received unprecedented discharge from Himachal Pradesh, J&K and even nullahs of Pakistan due to unabated rains," said Goyal. "There is widespread damage to crops, people are marooned, helicopters have been pressed into service to airlift people, medical camps have been set up and livestock has been impacted... The Centre needs to move with alacrity and announce relief."

As per the state's estimates, 3 lakh acres of agricultural land has been affected. Goyal said the Centre should compensate farmers at the rate of ₹50,000-60,000 per acre.