Sukhbir S Badal appeals to centre to provide financial package to ensure relief during annual flooding in Punjab

Sultanpur Lodhi, August 26, 2025:  Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on August 24 appealed to the central government to provide a financial package to ensure relief during annual floods which were wreaking havoc in various parts of the State by destroying standing crops and damaging vital infrastructure.
 
The SAD president visited a number of villages in this assembly constituency including the Aali Kalan, Baupur barrage and interacted with farmers whose standing crop have been destroyed by flood waters. Due to flooding of roads he hitched a ride on a tractor to visit the most affected areas.
 
Speaking to farmers at the barrage, Sukhbir Badal said it was most unfortunate that neither the centre nor the neighbouring States of Haryana and Rajasthan came to the help of Punjab during its time of need. “Both the neighbouring States benefit from water supplied to them during their time of need but when we are inundated by flood waters they do not extend any help to us”.  He demanded the centre should provide a financial package to the State to counter flooding and that Haryana and Rajasthan should also set aside funds for the same.
 
Interacting with farmers during visits to numerous villages in the area, Badal said it was shocking that farmers were contributing Rs 1,000 per acre to arrange for diesel to drain out water from their fields in the absence of any help from the State government. Badal announced to provide 10,000 liters of diesel immediately to help farmers drain out flood waters. He also assured farmers to provide 1,000 meters of plastic pipes besides any other necessity as and when required. 
 
Condemning the Aam Aadmi Party government for not providing solace to the flood hit farmers, Badal said chief minister Bhagwant Mann had earlier promised to give interim compensation in case of any natural calamity. “This is a fit case for providing Rs 40,000 per acre as an interim relief to affected farmers”. He also demanded the government release proper compensation to all those whose houses had been damaged by the floods.
 
The SAD president also entrusted senior leaders accompanying him including SGPC member Gurpreet Kaur Roohi, Swaran Singh, Jarnail Singh Dograwal, Ranjit Singh Khurana, Harjap Sangha and Dalwinder Singh Sidhu to provide packed food as well as fodder for milch animals wherever required. He said he would also send fog machines and a team of doctors to counter the spread of water borne diseases in the flooded areas.
 
Earlier on Saturday Badal had visited 50 flood affected villages of Balluana and Abohar constituencies, where he provided all help to the affected people.