Punjab Govt Launches Flood Cleanup in 10 Villages

Pathankot, September 16, 2025

The Punjab government has launched an extensive sanitation drive across 10 flood-affected villages under the supervision of Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak. The initiative comes as part of a larger state-wide effort directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to restore normalcy in rural areas that suffered heavy damage during recent floods.

Immediate Action in Flood-Hit Villages

The recent floods left behind stagnant water, damaged houses, destroyed crops, and major public health concerns. Recognizing the urgency, the state government has initiated mega sanitation drives to control the risk of epidemics.

Minister Kataruchak, while addressing villagers in Khojki Chak, stated that Punjab’s entire cabinet is actively working on ground in the worst-hit regions. He stressed that the government is committed to compensating for losses in housing, agriculture, and livestock, while ensuring public health is safeguarded.

Sanitation Drive Underway

The flood cleanup campaign includes:

Street cleaning and drainage of stagnant water
Spraying disinfectants to prevent disease outbreaks
Fogging operations to control mosquito breeding
Public awareness programs encouraging community participation

Kataruchak personally joined the operations, motivating villagers to participate in keeping their surroundings clean and safe.

Financial Support for Villages

The Punjab government has also announced ₹1 lakh as the first installment for each flood-affected village. These funds will support sanitation work, purchase of equipment, and health safety measures.

“Every village hit by the floods will receive this financial aid to ensure cleanliness drives are carried out effectively,” said Minister Kataruchak.

Compensation for Losses

The government has directed special girdawari (damage assessment surveys) across flood-affected areas. This survey will cover:

Collapsed or damaged houses
Crop destruction
Livestock losses

Based on these surveys, affected families will receive timely compensation. Kataruchak emphasized that no affected household will be left behind in the relief process.

Government’s Long-Term Relief Efforts

The Punjab government has adopted a multi-pronged approach for rehabilitation:

Immediate sanitation drives to prevent post-flood diseases.
Financial assistance for cleanliness and infrastructure restoration.
Compensation packages based on girdawari reports.
Ministerial monitoring to ensure on-ground execution.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s directive requires every MLA or minister of flood-hit constituencies to personally monitor relief and sanitation work.

Community Participation Encouraged

Alongside government officials, local leaders, sarpanches, block presidents, youth club members, and social organizations have joined the campaign. Notable attendees included:

Naresh Saini, District President BC Wing
Pawan Kumar Foji, Block President
Surinder Sah, Block President
Sandeep Kumar, Block President
Subedar Kulwant Singh, Block President
Several sarpanches from affected villages

Their participation reflects strong community-government cooperation in this large-scale campaign.

Health and Hygiene Priority

One of the government’s biggest concerns is the spread of epidemics after floods. Standing water and poor sanitation can trigger outbreaks of malaria, dengue, and waterborne diseases.

To counter this, fogging machines, disinfectant sprays, and awareness drives have been deployed across villages. Villagers are being advised on safe drinking water practices, waste disposal, and mosquito prevention methods.

A Message of Hope

Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak assured villagers that the Punjab government is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them in this crisis. He urged citizens to remain patient as the administration carries out step-by-step rehabilitation measures.

“The floods caused severe damage, but together we will rebuild and emerge stronger,” he said.