Chandigarh: The Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday opened its special session on the recent floods, with Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan urging both the ruling party and the opposition to keep the focus on recovery efforts.
Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goel initiated the debate, saying the rains had defied even the Meteorological Department’s forecast and caused widespread devastation in Punjab. He moved a resolution against the Centre and demanded a relief package of Rs 20,000 crore for the state.
Goel also accused the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) of leaving Punjab “unarmed” during the floods and blamed its decisions for worsening the crisis. He highlighted the hurdles created by the Centre in river desilting projects. “Instead of applying ointment to Punjab’s wounds, the Centre applied salt,” Goel said, adding that the central government failed to support the state in its hour of need.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, meanwhile, accused the opposition of “doing politics over dead bodies.”
Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa demanded an impartial probe into the causes of the floods and targeted both Water Resources Minister Goel and Principal Secretary Krishan Kumar. Bajwa continued interrupting Goel during his response, leading to heated exchanges in the House.
Goel reiterated that the Centre should immediately extend generous assistance, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi must step forward to help Punjab recover from the disaster.
