Punjab Floods: AAP Criticizes Chouhan, Seeks Relief Package Amid Illegal Mining Claims

Quick Summary

• Punjab is experiencing severe flooding from swollen rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Ghaggar) caused by heavy rainfall in their catchment areas and intensified by local rains.
• Union Minister shivraj Singh Chouhan attributed the flooding partly to weakened embankments compromised by illegal mining activities. He pledged to submit a detailed report to PM Modi after visiting flood-hit areas in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Kapurthala.
• Punjab Cabinet Minister Aman arora criticized Mr. Chouhan for blaming illegal mining and accused BJP leaders of conducting “photo ops” without announcing financial aid for the State.
• The ruling party AAP alleged that Center has not provided flood relief despite 15 days passing since the disaster began. CM Bhagwant Mann previously requested ₹60,000 crore from pending state funds at the Centre.
• AAP leaders further accused BJP of discrimination against Punjab compared to other states like odisha or West Bengal that received aid promptly during floods.
• Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was hospitalized due to exhaustion amid efforts to manage the crisis.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The recent floods in Punjab highlight critical vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness linked directly with infrastructure management and governance concerning river embankments. While Union Minister Shivraj Singh chouhan singled out illegal mining as a contributing factor weakening protective structures along major rivers, accusations from state officials underline perceived delays and gaps in cooperative federal support during emergencies.

Efforts toward immediate relief coordination seem strained between Central authorities and Punjab’s government-a challenge exacerbated by political tensions over pending funds disputes.The lack of announced financial assistance has sparked claims of alienation despite Punjab’s ancient contributions during national crises.For India broadly, tackling disasters like these necessitates preemptive infrastructure fortification paired with robust intergovernmental collaboration over funding models-ideally insulated from politicization given increasing climate-related flood risks across multiple states.

Image credits: PTI

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