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Chandigarh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a financial assistance package of ₹1,600 crore for Punjab, which has been reeling under its worst floods since 1988. The announcement came after the Prime Minister undertook an aerial survey of flood-hit districts and held a high-level review meeting with state ministers and senior officials in Gurdaspur.
Multi-Dimensional Relief Plan
Unveiling the package, the PM said the Centre’s support would go beyond immediate compensation. The plan includes rebuilding damaged homes under the PM Awaas Yojana, restoring national highways and rural roads, reconstructing schools and essential public infrastructure, providing direct relief to affected families, and distributing mini kits for livestock to support the rural economy.
The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of targeted support for farmers, noting that additional aid will be given to cultivators who currently lack power connections but face massive crop and livelihood losses.
Central Teams to Assess Damage
The Centre has already dispatched inter-ministerial teams to Punjab for a detailed survey of losses to crops, livestock, property, and infrastructure. Officials said that further assistance may be announced once the teams submit their final report.
Relief in Himachal: ₹1,500 Crore Aid Announced Earlier in the Day
Earlier on Tuesday, PM Modi had announced a ₹1,500-crore package for Himachal Pradesh, where cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods have caused widespread destruction. He also declared an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh for the next of kin of those who lost their lives and ₹50,000 for the injured.
The Himachal package covers restoration of roads, bridges, and essential public works, with an emphasis on rebuilding damaged rural infrastructure. Officials said the state has reported losses of over ₹4,500 crore, with 370 deaths and 41 missing persons since June 20.
Regional Parity, Political Undercurrents
The back-to-back relief announcements for Himachal (₹1,500 crore) and Punjab (₹1,600 crore) indicate a calibrated strategy by the Centre to extend parity in assistance to both states. While Congress rules Himachal, Punjab is governed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), but the BJP is keen to expand its rural base in both regions.
In Punjab, the timing of the Prime Minister’s visit carries added political weight. A day before his arrival, the AAP government announced enhanced compensation for farmers — ₹20,000 per acre, up from ₹6,800 under central norms — and demanded a ₹20,000-crore special package from the Centre.
With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections on the horizon, analysts say the BJP is using the Centre’s direct relief to mark its presence in rural Punjab, while AAP projects itself as the state’s protector of farmers’ interests. The competition for political credit over flood relief has thus become a proxy battle for future electoral ground.
