Chandigarh: Ahead of Diwali, the Punjab government, led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, brought relief to flood victims by distributing ₹6.3 crore in compensation. 12 cabinet ministers on Wednesday handed over sanction letters to affected families across state, fulfilling the government’s promise under “Mission Rehabilitation”.
However, On October 13, the Chief Minister had launched the state-wide compensation drive from Ajnala by disbursing Rs.5.70 crore among 631 families. The Mann government has provided Rs. 20,000 per acre for crop loss, up to Rs.1.20 lakh for damaged houses and financial aid for livestock within just 45 days. The amount was transferred directly into beneficiaries’ accounts through DBT to ensure transparency. The special girdawari teams covered almost every affected household and it was also being ensured that damaged roads will soon be re-carpeted.
Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema initiated the compensation distribution process in Sangrur by handing over sanction letters to eight flood-affected families in the Dhuri constituency. ₹3.50 crore will be distributed to flood victims in Sangrur district.
Cabinet Minister and AAP State President, Aman Arora today initiated the disbursement of compensation to flood-affected families from village Rampur Kalan in Banur Sub-Tehsil and village Sarsini in Derabassi Tehsil of district SAS Nagar. The Minister distributed compensation approval letters worth 66 lakh to around 80 affected families.
Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur distributed relief worth Rs.1.05 crore among flood-affected families in Fazilka district for losses to crops and houses. The Minister informed that Rs.10.19 lakh was given to 43 beneficiaries and Rs.14.22 lakh for 29 damaged houses in Kahnewala village, Rs.9.47 lakh in Bahik Hasta Uttar village and Rs.71.22 lakh in Dharampura village.
Dr. Baljit Kaur distributed Rs.16.88 lakh as compensation to flood affected residents of Lakkarwala, Thehri and Shergarh villages in Malout constituency. She said that although floods did not hit Malout, certain areas suffered crop and property damage.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Dr. Balbir Singh accompanied by MLA Gurlal Ghanaur also handed over sanction letters of ₹88 lakh as compensation to 232 farmers from the flood-hit villages of Saunta, Sheikhpur Dakheli Lohsimbli, and Samaspur in Patiala district.
In Bhoa constituency, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Forests and Wildlife Preservation Minister Sh. Lal Chand Kataruchak distributed relief cheques worth Rs.31 lakh among 130 flood-affected families of Pathankot district.
Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar formally started the distribution of compensation to flood-affected families from Kishan Singh Wala village in Kapurthala district by handing over sanction letters to around 25 farmers from Kishan Singh Wala, Chak Patti Balu Bahadur, and Hussainpur Bule villages in Sultanpur Lodhi sub-division.
PWD and Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO distributed compensation worth Rs.59 lakh among 138 flood-affected families in Gurdaspur district. The distribution drive covered multiple areas where 42 beneficiaries from village Khushipur in Dera Baba Nanak received cheques of Rs.23 lakh, 50 beneficiaries from village Khokhar Rajputan in Gurdaspur were given Rs.24 lakh and 46 families from village Kothe in Dera Baba Nanak were provided relief worth nearly Rs.12 lakh.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian has started the distribution of compensation in Zira sub-division of Ferozepur district from village Fattewala by handing over sanction letters amounting to more than Rs. 16 lakh were distributed to 57 farmers. Meanwhile, S. Khudian also distributed sanction letters of compensation amounting to Rs. 99.20 lakh to 254 farmers of village Nihala Lavera and Rs. 6.60 lakh to 37 farmers of village Kamal Wala of Ferozpur.
Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh launched the distribution of relief funds to flood-affected families in Hoshiarpur district. At an event held at Tanda Municipal Council, the first tranche of approval letters was handed over. As many as 60 beneficiaries received approval letters totaling Rs.24.27 lakh, while beneficiaries from village Fatta received Rs.9.46 lakh, those from Abdullapur received Rs.5.50 lakh and beneficiaries from Gandhowal received Rs.9.30 lakh.
Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal distributed Rs.24 lakh among 28 affected families of Ajanala constituency and Rs.18.41 lakh among 23 families of Rajasansi constituency.
Similarly, Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian disbursed Rs. 25.05 lakh as flood relief to 84 farmers from flood-hit villages under Samrala sub-division.
Similarly, Horticulture, Freedom Fighters and Defence Services Welfare Minister Sh. Mohinder Bhagat distributed Rs.10 lakh as compensation to 47 farmers from villages Mulewal Araiyan, Seechewal, Narangpur, Sohal Khalsa and Billi Warraich in Shahkot under Mission Rehabilitation. He informed that a total compensation amount of Rs.13 crore will be disbursed among flood-affected families across Jalandhar district.