Punjab floods: CM Mann urges PM Modi to release Rs 60,000 crore state funds; schools to remain shut till Sept 3 | India News

NEW DELHI: Punjab is battling one of many worst flood disasters in many years, with chief minister Bhagwant Mann urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 60,000 crore of the state’s funds which, he stated, have been “stuck” with the Centre.In a letter despatched on Sunday, Mann stated that about 1,000 villages and lakhs of individuals have been hit by the devastation brought on by the swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers, together with seasonal rivulets fed by heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.“Heavy monsoon rains, coupled with the release of waters from dams, have caused extensive flooding in seven districts, namely Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Amritsar, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Hoshiarpur,” wrote Mann.He additional added, “With the situation still evolving, there is a grave concern that conditions may further deteriorate in the coming days.”The CM stated that round three lakh acres of farmland, largely paddy fields, remain submerged, with crops destroyed simply weeks earlier than harvest. “In addition, there has been a widespread loss of livestock, which is severely impacting rural households whose livelihoods are heavily dependent on dairy and animal husbandry,” he wrote.As floodwaters proceed to disrupt life throughout the state, the Punjab authorities has prolonged the closure of all schools till 3 September. “In accordance with the directives of chief minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Singh Mann, keeping in view the flood situation in Punjab, holidays have been declared in all government/aided/recognised and private schools in the state until September 3, 2025,” state training minister Harjot Singh Bains introduced. He added, “Parents and students are requested to prioritise safety and comply with the instructions issued by the administration.”The schools had beforehand been shut from August 27 to August 30.Mann claimed that Rs 60,000 crore of Punjab’s funds are pending with the Centre. Breaking down the determine, he stated the state suffered a everlasting income lack of Rs 49,727 crore due to the implementation of GST and transition from the VAT regime, for which “no compensation has been provided by the government of India”. He additionally identified that cuts within the rural growth fund (RDF) and mandi growth fund (MDF) had price the state over Rs 8,000 crore, whereas the scrapping of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) tasks value Rs 828 crore “can adversely impact the state’s rural connectivity in the long run”.“Punjab is facing a tough time due to the worst flood conditions. You are requested to release all funds of Punjab stuck with the Government of India, which is to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore,” he urged.The CM additionally requested the Centre to revise norms underneath the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), calling them “totally unrealistic”. At current, compensation norms repair enter subsidy for crop loss above 33% at Rs 17,000 per hectare, equal to Rs 6,800 per acre. He stated that paying such a petty quantity can be a merciless joke with the farmers, additional noting that the state authorities had been topping it up to Rs 15,000 per acre by contributing an additional Rs 8,200.“Since the crops were almost at the harvesting stage, I feel that at least Rs 50,000 per acre should be paid to the farmers. So I request you to revise the norms of compensation of SDRF. Needless to say the state government shall continue to contribute 25 per cent as per the scheme of SDRF,” Mann stated.The flood-hit districts embrace Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar, with aid efforts persevering with as water ranges remain excessive.