SHAHKOT
Punjab Horticulture, Freedom Fighters, and Defense Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat todaysaid that the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has fulfilled its promise. He was addressing a gathering at Shahkot while distributing compensation to flood-affected farmers. The Minister announced that in the coming days, Rs. 13 crores will be distributed among flood victims in Jalandhar district under Mission Punarwas. He said that the state government stands firmly with its people in every situation and is making all efforts to bring the lives of flood-hit families back to normal. Handing over approval letters worth about Rs. 10 lakhs to as many as 47 affected farmers from the villages of Moolewal Arain, Seechewal, Narangpur, Sohal Khalsa, and Billi Warraich, Mr. Bhagat said that floods had caused significant loss to farmlands, crops, properties, and livestock. He added that the Punjab Government promptly initiated ground-level assessment and has now started disbursing compensation. He said that CM Bhagwant Mann’s government had promised to provide relief before Diwali, and within just 30 days, the largest-ever compensation amount has been distributed to flood victims. The Minister added that the ‘Mission Punarwas’ was launched by the Chief Minister at Ajnala by distributing cheques worth Rs. 5.70 crore to about 631 farmers, and similar initiatives are being carried out statewide by other Cabinet Ministers. For the first time in the country, farmers are being compensated at the rate of Rs. 20,000 per acre. Praising the efforts of the district administration led by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, Mr. Bhagat said officers worked tirelessly to prevent major losses during floods.
Dr. Aggarwal thanked the state government, adding that with public cooperation, embankments along theSutlej were strengthened, preventing severe damage. He noted that Shahkot Block ranked among the top performers under the Aspirational Block Programme.
Flood-affected farmers expressed gratitude to CM Bhagwant Mann for the timely financial aid, saying it would help them recover from their economic hardship. SDM Shubhi Angra, District Revenue Officer Navdeep Bhogal, were present on the occasion.