Governor Kataria visits flood-hit Ferozepur; Voices support for farmers’ land rights
Ferozepur, September 2, 2025: During his visit to Ferozepur, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria addressed the longstanding issue faced by local farmers whose names are incorrectly recorded in land revenue records (girdawari), despite their families cultivating the land for over 70 years. He highlighted that this discrepancy prevents them from accessing government relief during crises like floods or conflicts, forcing them to evacuate their lands repeatedly.
Governor Kataria expressed concern over the farmers' inability to benefit from government schemes due to unregistered land ownership. He assured that he would personally discuss the matter with the Chief Minister to ensure these farmers receive their rightful benefits. He emphasized the need for a robust system to provide timely alerts and support, leveraging modern tools like WhatsApp groups for rapid communication to mitigate losses during natural disasters.
He noted that floodwaters from Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh take 14-15 hours to reach Ferozepur, underscoring the need for an improved early warning system. Kataria stressed that while natural disasters cannot be controlled, proactive measures can minimize human suffering. He urged the state government to enhance preparedness and ensure timely evacuations to safer locations, enabling farmers to protect their livelihoods.
The Governor also mentioned discussions with the Union Home Minister and the Prime Minister, who have spoken to the Chief Minister to ensure adequate support. He emphasized that with proper coordination and use of available resources, the state and central governments could significantly improve disaster response and relief measures for affected communities.