Flood Relief Dialogue Gains Momentum as Punjab, Centre Work to Resolve Funding Gaps
Amid the back-and-forth over flood-relief assistance, the conversation between the Punjab government and the Centre has begun moving into a more structured phase, with both sides signalling readiness to bridge procedural gaps and expedite support to affected regions.
The state has so far received an early SDRF instalment of Rs 240 crore, a release that officials acknowledge has enabled immediate relief work in several of the flood-hit pockets along the Sutlej, Ghaggar and Beas. Punjab is awaiting a response to its larger proposal of Rs 12,905 crore, submitted to rebuild damaged embankments, restore rural infrastructure and compensate families who lost homes and crops.
Even as the Centre has pointed to procedural requirements under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) framework, senior BJP leaders maintain that once the documentation is aligned with mandated formats, the process can advance smoothly. The emphasis, they say, is on ensuring the state maximises available avenues for assistance without avoidable delays.
Sources in Chandigarh note that the administrative dialogue has widened in recent weeks, with repeated exchanges between the state’s disaster management teams and Union Home Ministry officials. There is cautious optimism that once technical assessments are harmonised, Punjab’s case for additional support will move into the approval channel.
On the ground, the early funds released have helped kick-start repairs in several districts, particularly in low-lying belts where families have been grappling with weakened roads and breached protective bunds. Officials say the next tranche of support—once cleared—will allow the reconstruction effort to shift from temporary stabilisation to long-term rebuilding.
For both governments, the priority now appears to be restoring normalcy in the affected regions before winter deepens. If the ongoing coordination holds, what began as a political flashpoint could evolve into a more streamlined Centre-state partnership on disaster recovery—one that communities across Punjab are counting on.