Punjab Governor surveys flood-ravaged areas, says more aid coming

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday assured that the Central Government would leave no stone unturned to work in tandem with the state government to mitigate the plight of flood-affected people.

His statement is significant in light of the growing dejection among farmers, their unions, and all political parties (barring the BJP) in Punjab after the announcement of a Rs 1,600 crore grant by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the flood-ravaged state yesterday.

The grant was considered meager compared to the massive devastation in Punjab caused by the floods. The state’s Aam Aadmi Party government has esti mated its losses at Rs 13,800 crore and demanded a relief package of Rs 20,000 crore from the Centre.

Governor Kataria, who was flying back to Chandigarh from Pathankot this morning, said, “I conducted an aerial survey of the flood situation. Though the water level has started receding, the extent of damage to houses and crops is enormous.”

"More aid will be coming 100 percent in the coming days," he assured.

Soon after Kataria met Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and inquired his well-being at a Mohali hospital. Kataria said the CM was recuperating well and was likely to be discharged today.