Withdraw 5-acre cap on flood compensation; pay ₹50,000/acre to all affected farmers: Sukhbir Badal
Chandigarh, September 18, 2025:
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the Punjab government to scrap the cap limiting crop-loss compensation to five acres per farmer, warning that restricting the announced ₹20,000-per-acre payout to a fixed acreage would leave many cultivators undercompensated and deepen the agrarian crisis.
Calling the recent deluge a “Mann-made” tragedy, Badal alleged the government failed to desilt drains and strengthen bundhs ahead of the monsoon and is now delaying compensation, and demanded an enhanced relief of ₹50,000 per acre for all flood‑damaged crops.
He also pressed for the immediate release of ₹12,000 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund, saying there was no justification for withholding it and that farmers, agricultural labourers facing livelihood loss, families hit by livestock deaths, and households needing repairs must receive adequate assistance.