Punjab Cabinet to Address Devastating Flood Crisis Amid Concerns Over Silted Farmlands

The Punjab Cabinet is gearing up for a crucial virtual meeting on Monday to tackle the dire flood situation gripping the state. With Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann participating from a hospital in Mohali, the meeting will primarily focus on relief and rescue operations, according to sources.

Floods have wrought havoc on Punjab, attributed to swollen rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—and heavy rainfall in catchment areas across Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Himachal Pradesh. Demonstrating a sense of urgency, the cabinet plans to evaluate a policy granting farmers the right to extract sand deposited in their farmlands by the floodwaters.

The meeting, originally scheduled for Friday, was postponed due to Mann's health concerns. The Chief Minister, recovering well according to hospital reports, will chair the meeting via video conferencing, underscoring the critical nature of the distress dominating the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)