PUNJAB SAYS CENTRE'S DISASTER FUND FAR SHORT OF GROUND LOSSES

Punjab is battling one of the worst flood disasters in decades, but the clash between the state and the Centre over disaster relief funding is deepening.

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The state government has accused the Union government of offering inadequate and unrealistic assistance under the existing disaster relief framework, saying that the gap between New Delhi's claims and ground reality is "stark and widening by the day." Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who has been touring flood-hit villages, set the tone when he declared, "I am not the mukh mantri of Punjab, I am the dukh mantri. Dukh sanjha karan naal dukh adha reh janda hai." His remark, meant to show solidarity with affected people, also underlined the frustration that despite Punjab's repeated appeals for urgent help, the Centre has not met the state's demands.

State's own enhanced package: To fill the gap.

Punjab has rolled out what Mann called the "highestever" compensation package in the state's history. Farmers suffering crop loss will receive Rs 20,000 per acre, nearly three times higher than the SDRF's Rs 6,800 norm. For houses, families whose dwellings have been fully destroyed will get Rs 1.20 lakh, and those with partial damage Rs 40,000, compared to the earlier Rs 6,800.

Compensation for livestock has also been enhanced: Rs 37,500 for a cow or buffalo, Rs 20,000 for a calformule, Rs 4,000 for a goat, and proportionate amounts for poultry. Ex gratia for deaths has been fixed at Rs 8 lakh per family, double the Centre's Rs 4 lakh benchmark.

So far, 55 deaths have been confirmed, with cheques already issued to 42 families.

"The state government will complete all compensation disbursal within 45 days.

Officers from unaffected districts will be deputed in affected areas to speed up the special girdawri. Farmers will be allowed a week to file objections to ensure accuracy," Mann said.