Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh surveyed the flood-affected areas of Tarn Taran and Kapurthala districts on Wednesday to assess the damage caused by the overflowing Beas river.
Amarinder Singh announced that the special 'girdawari' (survey to assess loss) will be completed at the earliest, paving the way for releasing compensation to the affected farmers. The chief minister announced that compensation would also be provided to the people whose houses had been damaged or for loss of any livestock, an official release said.
Incessant rains in past few days in Punjab had caused damage to crops at several places.
While directing the district officials to closely monitor the situation and ensure timely assistance to the people, Amarinder Singh described the damage to the crops in as "considerable".
The Congress leader, however, said the situation was not as bad as he had envisaged. He said reports of some crop damage have also been received from the districts of Gurdaspur and Amritsar, besides Tarn Taran and Kapurthala.
Allaying farmers' fears that the Food Corporation of India will not procure their produce due to higher moisture content this year, Amarinder Singh said he had already taken up the matter with the authorities concerned. "You will not face any problems in procurement."
In Tarn Taran, the chief minister was briefed by the district officials about the flood situation. He later met the residents of the area and assured them that his government would provide all possible help to those whose crops and houses had been damaged by the incessant rains and floods.
The chief minister also met the family of Gurbeer Singh (18), who was washed away on Monday, and announced a compensation of Rs 3.50 lakh.
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Amarinder Singh said the special 'girdawari' will be conducted as soon as the flood waters recede. He said once the revenue department receive reports from the district commissioners, the amount of compensation would be decided on the basis of the extent of damage.
Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said Punjab had rejected the Centre's crop-insurance scheme, as it was against the interests of the farmers as well as of the state.
He said if the Centre does not alter the scheme to meet the requirements of Punjab, the government would come out with its own insurance policy for the benefit of farmers.
He said, at present, the compensation to farmers would be paid from the state government's calamity fund.
The chief minister later visited the Mand area of Sultanpur Lodhi city and met the farmers, whose crops had suffered extensive damage due to flooding.
Responding to their demand that all pontoon bridges in Kapurthala district should be replaced with permanent ones, the chief minister said he would take up the matter with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The chief minister said he would also seek funds from the Centre for the construction of spurs to protect river banks in Beas.
He said the flooding in Beas had occurred mainly due to rains in Himachal Pradesh and the release of water from dams there.
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