Chandigarh, Oct. 1 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday accused the Centre of neglecting the state’s demand for adequate flood relief, insisting that Punjab was “asking for its due share, not begging.” He told the Assembly that the state had sought a ₹20,000 crore package to recover from August’s devastating floods, while the Centre’s approval of only ₹1,600 crore was “a drop in the ocean.”
Mann dismissed the Union government’s assertion that nearly ₹12,000 crore was lying unused in Punjab’s State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Presenting detailed records in a special session of the Assembly, he countered, “That is an imaginary figure, pure statistics jugglery. The complete account of the SDRF is before the public for anyone to verify.”
According to Mann, Punjab has received just ₹6,190 crore under SDRF in the last 25 years, across Congress, Akali-BJP and AAP governments, with most of it already spent on floods, droughts, hailstorms and other disasters. He said only around ₹1,200 crore now remains in the account—insufficient to cope with the scale of this year’s destruction.
In August 2025, flash floods swept through nearly 1,400 villages, leaving more than four lakh people directly affected. Farming belts bore the brunt of the damage, with thousands of acres of rabi crops including wheat and mustard destroyed. Farmer groups estimate nearly 75,000 families have been “completely ruined” and require urgent assistance.
An initial assessment by the state government pegged the losses at ₹13,800 crore, covering agriculture, roads, bridges, power and water supply systems. Officials noted that the figure is likely to rise further as surveys in remote areas are completed. “Given the magnitude of destruction, we have sought ₹20,000 crore so that rehabilitation and rebuilding can begin,” Mann said.
The Chief Minister also accused the Centre of withholding other crucial payments. “More than ₹50,000 crore of Punjab’s GST share and over ₹8,000 crore for rural development remain stuck. Not giving proper support during a disaster and presenting false data is unfortunate,” he said. He urged that disaster management not be politicized and reminded the Centre of its “constitutional responsibility.”
So far, the Union government has stood by its view that Punjab should use funds available under SDRF, a position challenged by both the state government and Opposition leaders. “The approved relief is far too little compared to the scale of damage,” an Opposition legislator remarked during the session.
While pressing the Centre for greater support, Mann said his government has been extending immediate relief to farmers using state resources and contributions to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Yet, he admitted Punjab alone could not handle a crisis of this magnitude. “We are not asking for charity; we are asking for what is rightfully ours,” he reiterated, calling for the Centre to release the full ₹20,000 crore package without delay.
