Chandigarh, August 18: Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, urging immediate relief measures for farmers whose crops have been destroyed by floods in Kapurthala and Tarn Taran districts.
In his letter, Seechewal highlighted the plight of nearly 16 villages in the Mand area, a floodplain region along the Beas River, where continuous rainfall and large-scale water release from the Pong Dam in Himachal Pradesh have left standing paddy crops submerged. With water levels crossing 1.25 lakh cusecs, vast stretches of farmland have been inundated, leading to rotting crops and waterlogged fodder.
Seechewal said the devastation has dealt a severe blow to farmers who were expecting a bumper harvest this season. “The floods have shattered hopes of farmers, many of whom also depend on livestock for survival. Even their fodder reserves are now decomposing,” he wrote.
The MP demanded timely compensation for affected cultivators and stressed the need for a moratorium on loan repayments, arguing that farmers struggling with crop and property losses cannot be expected to service bank installments immediately. He also pointed out that houses and animal shelters have been damaged in several villages, forcing families—particularly women, children, and the elderly—to evacuate to safer areas.
Drawing attention to repeated flood destruction in Punjab, including the 2023 deluge, Seechewal called for long-term protective measures to safeguard farmers from recurring natural disasters. “Every two to three years, calamities like these wipe out livelihoods. It is time for a permanent solution to protect vulnerable regions,” he added.
He urged the central and state governments to act swiftly, ensuring that farmers receive financial support to rebuild their lives with dignity.
