The Union Home Ministry has presented data directly contradicting Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's recent assertion that the Centre did not provide any financial assistance for flood relief works in the state. The ministry informed the Lok Sabha that more than Rs 481 crore has been released to Punjab under disaster management funds this financial year.
The Claims and Counterclaims Over Relief Funds
This disclosure comes amidst a public spat between the Punjab government and the central administration regarding the release of disaster-management funds. Chief Minister Mann, while addressing a press conference on November 29, had stated that not a "single rupee" was released by the Centre for flood relief works in Punjab. His remark was a direct rebuttal to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's statement two days prior, which claimed Rs 480 crore had been released for the border state.
The ministry's detailed response was provided to Congress MP from Gurdaspur, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who had sought information on funds allocated and released to Punjab over the last three years. According to the official record, for the current financial year 2025–26, the Punjab government was allocated Rs 642.4 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
Breakdown of the Fund Release
This allocation comprised a central share of Rs 481.6 crore and a state share of Rs 160.8 crore. The Centre released the first instalment of its share, amounting to Rs 240.8 crore, to the state government on August 18. Subsequently, following an announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the second instalment of the central share, also worth Rs 240.8 crore, was released in advance on September 10.
PM Modi had announced a Rs 1,600-crore financial assistance package for Punjab during his visit to assess the flood situation. The ministry also noted that the Punjab government reported an opening balance of a substantial Rs 11,947.20 crore in its SDRF account as of April 1, 2025.
Clarification on Disaster Management Roles
In its statement, the Home Ministry clarified the established protocol for disaster management. It emphasized that as per the National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM), the primary responsibility for disaster management, including the disbursal of relief assistance on the ground, rests with the concerned state governments.
The ministry explained that states are expected to undertake immediate relief measures using the SDRF already at their disposal, following approved norms. The Centre's role is to supplement these state efforts by providing logistical and financial support. Additional financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) is considered for disasters of a "severe nature," following an assessment by an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).
Extent of Crop Damage Across North India
In response to a separate query from Congress MP from Jalandhar, Charanjit Singh Channi, and others regarding crop damage from unseasonal rains, the ministry provided a nationwide assessment. The data revealed that crops on a vast 116.6 lakh hectares were affected across the country.
The state-wise damage in northern states was detailed as follows:
- Punjab: 1.93 lakh hectares
- Haryana: 4.32 lakh hectares
- Himachal Pradesh: 0.32 lakh hectares
Maharashtra reported the highest crop damage in the nation, with 75.42 lakh hectares affected. Despite these significant agricultural losses, the ministry offered a silver lining. Citing the first advance estimates for 2025–26, it stated that kharif foodgrain production is estimated at a record 1,733.3 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). This figure is 38.7 LMT higher than last year's output of 1,694.6 lakh tonnes, marking a growth of 2.28% over the previous year.
The release of this detailed financial data by the central government sets the record straight in the ongoing debate, providing a factual counterpoint to the political claims made over relief funding for flood-affected Punjab.
