Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Giani Harpreet Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking immediate intervention as Punjab reels under one of the worst floods in decades.
In his letter, Singh urged the Centre to recognize the situation as a “major national calamity” and release emergency relief funds without delay. He pointed out that Punjab, which has historically made unmatched sacrifices for the country, is today battling widespread devastation.
According to Singh, nearly 3.84 lakh people have been directly impacted, with thousands of homes, livestock, and agricultural lands destroyed. Over 1,500 villages are under water, leaving farmers, labourers, and ordinary families in desperate need of help.
The SAD chief pressed for a multi-pronged response, which includes:
- Direct financial support and rehabilitation for flood-hit families.
- Compensation for ruined crops, machinery, livestock, and houses.
- Restoration of essential infrastructure like roads, bridges, schools, and health centres.
- Debt relief measures for distressed farmers and small traders.
- Strengthening of river embankments and creation of a permanent flood management system.
Singh also raised the issue of Punjab’s water rights, demanding that the state be compensated for the use of its rivers and given greater control over bodies like the Bhakra Beas Management Board.
He criticized delays in delivering last year’s flood compensation, stressing that people cannot afford to wait. “Punjab has always shouldered the nation’s burdens selflessly. Today, when our people are suffering, we expect the Centre to stand with us,” Singh noted in his appeal.
The letter closes with a call for the deployment of central agencies, including the NDRF and Army, to step up relief efforts on the ground.
