Amritsar/Ajnala/Rajasansi, September 4, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
For the past nine days, people of Ajnala constituency have been suffering due to the devastating floods caused by the Ravi River.
To review the situation and ongoing relief efforts, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Chouhan today paid a special visit to the severely affected border village of Ghohanewala. He was accompanied by local MLA and former Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Punjab government ministers, former ministers, MLAs, leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, as well as senior district civil and police administration officials.
During the visit, Shri Chouhan was briefed about the immediate relief being provided to the victims, rescue of lives, and rehabilitation measures. He was also informed about the satisfactory roles being played in this crisis by the Governor of Punjab, the Army, BSF, NDRF, other government agencies, and various social and religious organizations.
On this occasion, MLA and former minister Shri Dhaliwal appealed to the Union Minister for immediate central support for relief and rehabilitation of the affected people. He explained that the Ajnala constituency lies along nearly 49 km of the India–Pakistan international border, and every year the Ravi River brings destruction and loss of life and property.
Border residents, alongside BSF, Punjab Police, and civil administration, constantly act as a second line of defense against cross-border threats such as smuggling, arms, narcotics, and infiltration. They have always stood firm during the wars of 1965, 1971, 1999 (Kargil), and most recently during Operation Sindoor.
Dhaliwal further informed the Union Minister that since independence, farmers and farm laborers of this region have turned barren and forested land into fertile fields through hard work, and have contributed significantly to the nation’s food grain reserves.
Earlier, at Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, Rajasansi (Amritsar), MLA Dhaliwal along with Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Gurmeet Singh Khuddian welcomed Union Minister Shri Chouhan on behalf of the Punjab government.
On this occasion, Dhaliwal submitted a memorandum requesting an immediate financial package of ₹2,000 crore in the first phase for flood relief and rehabilitation of Ajnala residents, as well as the release of pending ₹60,000 crore owed by the Centre to the Punjab government.
In detailed discussions, Dhaliwal pointed out that the current floods in the Ravi River are even more devastating than those of 1988.
In just 38 years, these floods have destroyed the hard-earned economic, social, agricultural, livestock, small businesses, health, education, roads, embankments, and bridges infrastructure that the people of Ajnala had painstakingly built. Valuable human lives have also been lost. He emphasized that only with the release of a ₹2,000 crore relief package in the first phase can these losses be addressed.
Dhaliwal also mentioned that nearly two months ago, in early July, he had held a high-level meeting in New Delhi with Union Jal Shakti Minister Shri C.R. Patil, demanding necessary funds for flood-related issues and other problems.
Though Shri Patil had assured early release of funds in national interest, the promise has not yet been fulfilled. Dhaliwal urged Shri Chouhan to take this matter up with his cabinet colleague Shri Patil to ensure the release of the required funds.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Shivraj Chouhan, after being briefed about the ground realities at Ghohanewala and the memorandum submitted at Rajasansi Airport, assured support. He said the central government will soon take appropriate steps to provide the necessary relief and rehabilitation assistance to the Punjab government.
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