Chandigarh, Sept 14 — The Punjab government on Sunday launched a state-wide special Girdawari (crop loss assessment) to evaluate damage caused by recent floods, deploying 2,167 patwaris to affected districts. Officials said the campaign will ensure every flood-hit family receives compensation within 45 days.
Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said the drive was being carried out on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. “This is not a favor but the rightful due of our people,” Mundian noted, stressing that the process would be transparent and time-bound.
The minister said negligence by officials would not be tolerated. “Any officer found deliberately delaying work will face strict disciplinary action. The state will personally monitor progress on a daily basis to ensure fairness,” he said.
According to the government, patwaris from unaffected districts are being sent to flood-hit villages to speed up the process. Teams will inspect fields, homes, and livestock to prepare detailed reports.
District-wise deployment includes 343 patwaris in Gurdaspur, 291 in Hoshiarpur, 196 in Amritsar, 149 in Kapurthala, 141 in Patiala, 115 in Barnala, 110 in Fazilka, 113 in Ferozepur, 95 in Mansa, 92 in Rupnagar, 88 in Pathankot, 84 in Jalandhar, 71 in Tarn Taran, 60 in Ludhiana, 29 in Moga, 25 in Sri Muktsar Sahib, 21 in Bathinda, 15 each in Faridkot and SAS Nagar, and 7 in Malerkotla.
Mundian reiterated the Chief Minister’s announcement of the “highest-ever compensation package in Punjab’s history.” Farmers whose crops are destroyed will receive ₹20,000 per acre. Families whose homes are fully damaged will be paid ₹1,20,000, while those with partial damage will receive ₹40,000. Livestock compensation has been fixed at ₹37,500 for cows and buffaloes and ₹4,000 for goats.
He added that farmers and residents will have one week to raise objections before compensation lists are finalized. Distribution of cheques for damaged houses and livestock is scheduled to begin from September 15.
According to the latest official report, about 1,98,525 hectares of farmland have been affected by floods. The highest losses were reported in Amritsar (27,154 hectares), Gurdaspur (40,169), Fazilka (25,182), Patiala (17,690), Ferozepur (17,257), Kapurthala (17,574), and Tarn Taran (12,828). Other impacted districts include Hoshiarpur (8,322 hectares), Mansa (12,207), Jalandhar (4,800), Pathankot (2,442), Moga (2,240), SAS Nagar (2,000), Bathinda (586), Rupnagar (1,135), and SBS Nagar (188).
The state government confirmed one additional death in Moga district during the past 24 hours, raising the flood-related toll to 56.
Mundian said that in villages where crops were wiped out completely, the assessment and compensation would be wrapped up in one month. “Our commitment is clear—every affected farmer and family will get their compensation within the promised 45 days,” he noted.
