PUNJAB CM ANNOUNCES TO GIVE RS 7200 PER ACRE TO FARMERS UNDER JISDA KHET, USDI RET SCHEME FOR DESILTING IN THEIR FARMS
ANNOUNCES SLEW OF RELIEF MEASURES FOR THE FLOOD AFFECTED PEOPLE
SAYS MODI HAS TIME TO MEET SELECTED REPRESENTATIVES BUT IGNORES THOSE ELECTED ONES
SLAMS UNION GOVERNMENT FOR IMPOSING ‘UNDECLARED PRESIDENT RULE’ IN THE STATE
Chandigarh, September 29 (WISHAVWARTA);- In a major relief to flood affected people, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday announced to give Rs 7200 per acre for de-silting of sand from fields of the farmers under ‘Jisda Khet, Ohdi Ret’ scheme in the flood affected districts.
Winding up the discussion during a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister said that under ‘Jehda Khet, Ohdi Ret’ the farmers have been allowed to remove sand and silt accumulated due to floods in their fields and sell them if they desire. He said that due to the floods, sand and silt have accumulated in several fields at the inundated villages therefore, it has been decided that farmers will be allowed to remove sand and silt from their own fields. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government will give Rs 7200 per acre to the farmers under the scheme.
The Chief Minister said that in a healing touch the flood victims the state government has decided to enhance the compensation of 26 to 33 percent crop loss to Rs 10,000 per acre from existing Rs 2000 per acre under SDRF norms, 33 to 75 percent crop loss to Rs 10,000 from existing Rs 6800 per acre and for 75 to 100 percent crop loss compensation has been increased to Rs 20,000 per acre again from existing Rs 6800. He said that in the Rs 20,000 per acre compensation being given to the farmers the state government will contribute Rs 14,900 which is the highest in the country. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he will meet the Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday to flag the case of the state.
The Chief Minister said that for the repair of fully damaged house compensation worth Rs 1.20 lakh and for partially damaged houses the compensation has been raised from existing Rs 6500 to Rs 35,100. He further said that time bound special Girdawari to ascertain the losses suffered by the people is already going on. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government will give Rs 47,500 per hectare (Rs 18,800 per acre) to the farmers whose land has been eroded away by the rivers.
The Chief Minister said that the state is facing a severe crisis and healthy criticism is welcomed as the critics are the real friends who raise the shortcomings in the working of the government. He specifically thanked those who rendered selfless social service during floods adding that workers of various political parties did a remarkable job for rehabilitation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that ration and other flood relief material were provided by volunteers from other states, which was really laudable.
The Chief Minister said that some of these philanthropists adopted villages for rehabilitation whereas Army and NDRF provided state of the art apparatus for the relief work. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now it is the time for rehabilitation and the state government is introducing a Bill in this regard. He said that the state government will start the distribution of the compensation to the flood affected people from October 15 before the festival of Diwali.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government has already released Rs 4.50 crore for water logged areas of the state. He said that in order to have an advanced mechanism for prediction of the weather IIT Kharagpur and Bangalore along with Thapar University Patiala have been roped in. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Thapar University will launch its own Satellite for meteorological predictions to avert and minimize loss due to such natural tragedies.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has sought a hike of flood compensation to Rs 50,000 per acre from the Government of India. He bemoaned that the Prime Minister has time to meet the selected representatives (Governor) over the crucial issues whereas elected representatives are being ignored by him. met with the PM for relief works but the PM doesn’t have time for elected representatives.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that even during this hour of grave crisis, the Union Ministers came to the state for disaster tourism instead of extending a helping hand to the state government and people.
The Chief Minister said that even the Rs 1600 crore announced by the Prime Minister is a cruel joke with the state adding that it is ironic that the Rs 240 crore which the state was to get from SDRF has been included in it. He said that contrary to this the Prime Minister is announcing a huge relief package in the poll bound states like Bihar. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state opposes this step motherly treatment with the state and he will raise these issues with the Union Home Minister on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister said that BJP is insulating the mandate of the people by indulging in such tantrums which is totally unwarranted and undesirable. He said that the Union government has imposed ‘undeclared President Rule’ which cannot be tolerated. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Union government is diluting the basic federal structure of the constitution which is unfortunate.
Taking the Leader’s opposition to cudgels, the Chief Minister asked him the rationale behind opposing the Rangla Punjab Fund which has been established by the state government. He said that the state government has established this fund to rope in the contributions from the CSR and other philanthropists who want to help the flood victims. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for the reasons best known to him, the Leader of Opposition is baselessly issuing statements in this regard.
Sharing an anecdote, the Chief Minister said that during the 1962 Indo China war, the people of the country donated Gold into the National Defence Fund and Punjabi contributed huge gold and crores of rupees on the appeal of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He said that whenever the nation faces any crisis then the people contributed in the same missionary zeal but now when Punjab is facing a crisis such irresponsible statements are being issued. Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that the Congress leaders are making baseless remarks at this juncture that the state government has ‘Dug the Grave’ for people’.
The Chief Minister, while taking a quip over the mock session held by the BJP, said that the elected members of BJP are not present in the real session and are taking part in fake Vidhan Sabha. He said that all the leaders who are conducting Mock Session will be forced to conduct a fake Lok Sabha session in 2029 after the general elections. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every challenge gives a lesson and now we have learnt a lot from this crisis of floods adding that Water Recharging Points will be constructed and water level will be increased in many parts of the state.
The Chief Minister said that entire machinery of the state government is working in full swing and desilting is underway so that fields will be ready for crop of wheat. He said that suggestions of the members will be considered sympathetically to give major relief to the people adding that the opposition should stand united in this hour of crisis. Bhagwant Singh Mann urged the opposition to rise above the petty politics and work wholeheartedly for the welfare of the flood affected people.
