Punjab Congress president Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday alleged that SAD-BJP Government was “caught napping while the floods in hundreds of villages along Beas and Satluj rivers in border districts of Punjab have played havoc”.
“Thousands of people are still marooned and thousands of acres of crops are damaged,” he said addressing meeting of party workers at Mukerian. He demanded adequate compensation for damaged crops and homes of people. Bajwa, accompanied by Congress MlA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, also visited flood-hit villages Ghaniya Ka Bet and Ghonavala in Dera Baba Nanak sector along Indo-Pak border where dozens of villages have allegedly been inundated and standing crops are completely damaged in over 25,000 acres.
Expressing deep anguish over people’s plight waiting for government help, Bajwa demanded a compensation of Rs 25, 000 per acre for farmers who have fully lost their crops, Rs 15,000 who suffered partial loss and actual expenses for the reconstruction of homes damaged due to floods, besides setting up of relief camp. Bajwa also added that he would take up with the Centre the case of special funds for the flood protection in these areas.