A day after being discharged from hospital, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was back in action today, holding meetings to assess flood relief and rebuilding of infrastructure, while assuring that compensation would reach the affected people within 45 days.
“I am not the Mukh Mantri of Punjab, but the ‘Dukh Mantri’. I am back to stand by the people who are facing the worst-ever crisis caused by the floods. ‘Dukh sanjha karan naal adha reh handa hai’ (let’s stand by each other in this hour of grief),” he said.
Mann said a special girdawari on crop loss would start from Saturday, and that he had instructed all deputy commissioners to complete the process at the earliest. “We are collecting details on the loss of human lives, livestock deaths and damage to houses so that the government can start disbursing relief. I want to assure the affected people that we will release full compensation within 45 days. The cheques will be handed over by Diwali,” he said.
Taking a jibe at opposition parties that ruled the state in the past, he said during their tenure, compensation took a year to reach the affected lot. “People need immediate relief. I am personally overseeing the process. Punjab will be giving the highest compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for crop loss,” he said.