PTC Web Desk:  Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced a large-scale rehabilitation and cleanliness drive in flood-hit areas of the state, with an allocation of Rs 100 crore. The Chief Minister assured that all affected villages would be cleared of silt, debris and waste within the next 10 days.

Addressing a press conference, CM Mann said while floodwaters had receded in several areas, the aftermath had left villages and towns heavily clogged with mud and garbage. He said restoring normal life required immediate large-scale cleanliness and relief measures.

The state government has identified 2,303 affected villages and wards, where dedicated teams equipped with JCB machines, tractors, trolleys, and manpower would carry out the cleaning operations. These teams would also ensure the proper disposal of animals that perished during the floods. Following debris removal, fogging and sanitation drives would be carried out in each village to prevent the spread of diseases.

The Punjab CM said each affected village had been allocated an initial grant of Rs 1 lakh from the relief fund to meet urgent requirements. The state would bear the full cost of the operation.

CM Mann has set strict deadlines for the flood-relief operations: September 24: All villages to be cleared of mud and debris; October 15: Repair work at public places to be completed and  October 22: Village ponds to be fully cleaned and restored.

He also appealed to NGOs, youth clubs, and social organisations to extend their support to this “noble cause.”

To prevent post-flood outbreaks, the government would set up medical camps across all 2,303 villages. Of these, 596 villages already covered by Aam Aadmi Clinics would see additional facilities and medicines, while the remaining 1,707 villages would have camps at schools, dharamshalas, anganwadi centres, or panchayat bhavans.

At each camp, doctors, paramedics and equipped medical units would be deployed. The state has also arranged 550 ambulances to ensure no delay in providing healthcare to affected residents.

Highlighting livestock losses, CM Mann said around 2.5 lakh animals across 713 villages were impacted. To safeguard livestock health, veterinary teams are conducting vaccination and disinfection drives. By September 30, all affected animals would be vaccinated. The government is also providing potassium permanganate to disinfect water and fodder.

Acknowledging the hardships faced by farmers, CM Mann said even though no compensation could fully address their suffering, the government remained committed to full support. He confirmed that paddy procurement would begin on September 16, with flood-hit mandis undergoing urgent repairs and cleaning to be ready by September 19.

Providing figures, CM Mann said since the establishment of the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) in 2010, Punjab had received Rs 5,012 crore, of which Rs 3,820 crore had already been spent on natural calamity relief.