Punjab to seek full compensation for floods from Centre

Chandigarh, Aug 21 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the state government would demand full compensation from the Centre for the flood-hit farmers of the state instead of mere relief amount.

Talking to reporters here, he said he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi tomorrow to demand full compensation for the farmers whose crops were damaged in the recent floods in the state.

Mr Badal said the state government would give Rs 5000 per acre to the flood-hit farmers in the state.

The floods had damaged crops of paddy, cotton and maize over in the state and 22 people lost their lives, Principal Secretary (Revenue) Romila Dubey said.

She said as many as 2400 houses were damaged, 1800 of them completely. Roads had also been damaged in the flood-hit areas, she added.

A loss of Rs 530.44 crore had aleady been estimated in the flood-hit areas of the state, she added.

The official said these were initial figures about the loss caused by the floods which could turn out to be more on furher assessment.

She said as many as 183 villages in Jalandhar district, 138 villages in Ferozpur, 128 in Kapurthala, 85 in Ropar, 40 in Moga and 30 in Tarn Taran were affected in the floods.

UNI MA JS1735