Chandigarh: Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today urged Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi to demonstrate magnanimity in providing assistance to the flood-affected people of Punjab.
Addressing the media here at Punjab Bhawan, Sh. Goyal welcomed the Prime Minister’s scheduled visit to Punjab in the wake of devastating floods. He urged the PM to announce immediate release of at least Rs.25,000 crore as compensation for damages besides clearing pending dues of Rs.60,000 crore without delay. He expressed concern that although the Prime Minister is visiting Punjab nearly 25 days after the calamity, he has so far not spoken a word regarding the state’s plight.
Sh. Goyal informed that preliminary estimates suggest nearly 4 lakh acres of crops have been destroyed. While no breach occurred in embankments maintained by the Water Resources Department, overflowing water caused damage to embankments and other infrastructure.
Massive projects will be required for restoration once floodwaters recede, which will need substantial financial support. He further said that the Punjab Mandi Board has suffered huge losses due to damaged roads. Nearly 3,300 school and college buildings have been affected, while thousands of electricity poles collapsed and several transformers submerged. Urgent funds are required for restoration of these facilities, he added.