PM Modi is likely to visit ਪੰਜਾਬ on Sept 9 to assess flood damage; the state pegs the loss at Rs 13,289 crores.
CHANDIGARH: Prime ਮੰਤਰੀ Narendra Modi will visit ਪੰਜਾਬ on September 9 to take stock of the flood situation in the state through an aerial survey.
He will also visit the neighboring hill state of Himachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, the ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ has estimated a loss of Rs 13,289 crore due to the floods that have ravaged the state.
Sources said Modi will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas, including border districts. The official schedule has been finalized and shared with the state ਸਰਕਾਰ.
ਪੰਜਾਬ BJP president Sunil Jakhar said the prime ਮੰਤਰੀ is deeply concerned about the flood situation in ਪੰਜਾਬ and is closely monitoring it. “He is visiting ਪੰਜਾਬ on September 9 to personally assess the local conditions and understand the ground realities in order to provide maximum assistance to the ਲੋਕ of the state,” he said.
Jakhar added that two central ਸਰਕਾਰ teams, which visited ਪੰਜਾਬ to assess the damage caused by the floods, are set to submit their reports to the Centre. Union Agriculture ਮੰਤਰੀ Shivraj Singh Chouhan had earlier been sent to evaluate the situation.
The Prime ਮੰਤਰੀ will conduct an aerial survey of flood-hit zones and land in Pathankot, where he is expected to hold a meeting with state ਸਰਕਾਰ officials.
“As he will land at Kangra, and if weather permits, fly to Bharmour in Chamba ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ to take stock of the situation, or otherwise is expected to travel by road and then return to Kangra,” a state BJP leader said, adding that many pilgrims died in the Manimahesh Yatra.
Sources said Modi is also likely to stress the urgent need to strengthen embankments along the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Ghaggar rivers, which have weakened over the years due to illegal mining and lack of maintenance.
Two central teams—one headed by Rajesh Gupta of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the other by Santosh Kumar Tiwari of the Ministry of Rural Development—visited ਪੰਜਾਬ on Saturday to assess the flood situation. They held a meeting with a state delegation headed by ਮੁੱਖ Secretary K. A. P. Sinha, which included other administrative secretaries.
The state officials submitted a report to the central teams, noting that the estimated total loss due to the floods is around Rs 13,289 crore, based on figures provided by various districts. The teams visited the Ferozepur, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Kapurthala districts and also interacted with affected ਲੋਕ.
A senior official, requesting anonymity, said the exact extent of the damage would be known only after the floodwaters recede, though both central teams had conducted ground assessments. They are expected to return for a fresh evaluation once the waters subside.
The state ਸਰਕਾਰ has been demanding a special relief package from the Centre to compensate ਲੋਕ for losses to property and farming and also for funds to repair damaged infrastructure, including roads, bridges, culverts, flood protection systems, and power transmission lines, sources said.
According to the report submitted to the central teams, the highest loss has been incurred in infrastructure and areas related to the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, amounting to Rs 5,043 crore. Crop damage has been estimated at Rs 1,858 crore, while losses to water supply are pegged at Rs 1,520 crore. The mandi board suffered losses worth Rs 1,022 crore, and the health sector about Rs 780 crore.
Rural infrastructure, including roads, ਪਿੰਡ facilities, hospitals, and school buildings, has been severely damaged. Other departments have also reported losses: agriculture (Rs 317 crore), education (Rs 542 crore), power (Rs 103 crore), higher education (Rs 8 crore), food and civil supplies (Rs 6 crore), animal husbandry (Rs 7 crore, due to livestock deaths), and water supply (Rs 6 crore).
Officials said both central teams will soon submit their reports to the Union ਸਰਕਾਰ. Union Agriculture ਮੰਤਰੀ Shivraj Singh Chouhan has already submitted his report to the Prime ਮੰਤਰੀ.
AAP and BJP trade charges over cause of ਪੰਜਾਬ floods as Congress blames both for collective failure
