Union government team admits Punjab ‘in grave danger’

A two-member Union Government team on Thursday toured flood-affected areas of Gurdaspur district, considered the worst-hit region in the state, and concluded that Punjab was facing a “grave threat to its agricultural economy” due to recent floods.

The statement assumes significance as a majority of Punjabis are directly or indirectly engaged in agriculture.

The team assured full support from the Centre for speedy relief and rehabilitation measures.

The team consisted of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Ravneet Bittu, Minister of State for Railways. They were accompanied by an assessment team that will prepare a report, which Chouhan said would serve as the basis for a possible financial relief package.

Chouhan said, “Punjab’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture. However, this success is threatened by the floods.”

“Earlier, we did not believe the intensity of the floods. However, after seeing the damage ourselves, we got to know how deep the damage is,” he added.

Riding a tractor, Chouhan entered an inundated field in Makoran Pattan village and inspected paddy crops damaged by floodwaters.

“I can see thousands of acres of land on which paddy was grown but now has been flattened by the water. The silt brought by the Ravi River has been deposited in the agricultural fields, and there will be a crisis for the next crop. This is a dangerous phenomenon,” he said.

Chouhan visited Makoran Pattan village, where he rode a tractor into flooded fields and inspected paddy crops submerged by floodwaters. “Thousands of acres of paddy have been flattened. Silt brought by the Ravi river has been deposited across agricultural land, threatening the next cropping cycle. This is a dangerous phenomenon,” he said.

Ravneet Bittu reiterated that the Union Government has no hesitation in giving a grant to Punjab but the problem was the state’s outstanding debt, which had touched Rs 11,000 crore.

“Nevertheless, the central government will go all out to bring Punjab back on track,” he said.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, BJP Punjab president Sunil Jakhar, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, Gurdaspur BJP president Baghel Singh and former BJP district president Shiv Bir Singh Rajan also accompanied the central ministers during the visit.

The team toured Makoran Pattan, Behrampur, Kartarpur Corridor and villages of Dera Baba Nanak.

A farmer at Makoran Pattan showed Chouhan his damaged paddy crop. Chouhan even held the damaged crop in his hands, which had remained submerged for days.

“We request financial aid. We are already under debt and depend on the sale of paddy to clear our loans. However, this year, there will be no paddy to sell,” said the farmer.

Khudian apprised the team on the damage to human lives and livestock throughout the state.