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3d ago

PM Modi to Visit Flood-Hit Punjab on Sept. 9 as Relief Effort and Political Tensions Grow

Punjab leaders press for major relief, with blame over reservoir management and mining intensifying.

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A road caved in due to the surging Ravi river at Ghonewal village in Ramdas, Amritsar, on Saturday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)
Residents at a flood-affected area in Ajnala, Amritsar. (PTI)

Overview

  • The Prime Minister’s Office has informed the state of a Sept. 9 visit to review the situation, with officials indicating stops in Gurdaspur and other hard-hit districts.
  • Rescue and relief continue with the Army and NDRF in the field, as Haryana’s chief minister says his state is sending material to Punjab and stands ready to help.
  • Punjab pressed the Centre for a relief package of Rs 14,000 crore in talks with a central disaster committee, while Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said there has been no reply to the chief minister’s letter seeking Rs 60,000 crore in pending dues.
  • Punjab ministers rejected Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s claim that illegal mining caused the deluge, citing record rainfall and unprecedented inflows, mining bans near sensitive stretches, and recent embankment strengthening.
  • The BBMB–Punjab dispute sharpened, with the board chair citing inadequate pre-monsoon drawdown and mismanagement, and Punjab accusing the board of discriminatory decisions and denying its June request for 29,500 cusecs for irrigation.