The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has submitted a detailed memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the Deputy Commissioner of Mohali, demanding strict action against those responsible for the recent devastating floods in Punjab and full compensation for the affected farmers and residents. In the memorandum, the SKM stated that the heavy rain and floods that began in the last week of August 2025 caused extensive destruction across Punjab, leading to the loss of nearly 59 lives, collapse of houses, drowning of livestock, and large-scale damage to farmland and crops. The organisation said that while several farmer unions, social groups, and philanthropists came forward to help, the responsibility for flood prevention, relief, and rehabilitation lies solely with the government. The memorandum accused the Punjab government, the Central government, and the Bhakra Beas Management Board of gross negligence, calling the disaster “a man-made tragedy rather than a natural one”. It alleged that despite clear warnings of heavy rainfall, authorities failed to carry out timely inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of rivers, drains, embankments, and floodgates. The letter pointed out that the water in the dams was not released in a controlled and planned manner, and when the reservoirs filled to capacity, lakhs of cusecs of water were released suddenly, resulting in the bursting of three gates at the Madhopur Headworks following a massive discharge from the Ranjit Sagar Dam. The SKM demanded that a judicial inquiry be conducted under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge to identify and punish those officials and political leaders responsible for the mismanagement. The memorandum urged the Central government to declare the Punjab floods a national calamity and release a special financial package of Rs 25,000 crore for relief, rehabilitation, and rebuilding of damaged infrastructure. It further called for ensuring year-round water flow in rivers, implementing technical reforms in dam management, and carrying out desilting of all major reservoirs, pointing out that the Bhakra Dam’s storage capacity has already reduced by 19 per cent. The SKM also sought a complete ban on illegal mining along riverbanks, immediate cleaning of rivers, canals, and drains, and the strengthening of embankments with the help of technical experts. It demanded that natural water outlets obstructed by infrastructure projects such as Bharatmala be restored to prevent future floods. The farmers’ body insisted on a new compensation policy based on the actual losses suffered rather than fixed parameters, and that the process of compensation be time-bound. It asked for compensation of Rs 70,000 per acre for flood-damaged crops and 10 per cent of that amount for agricultural labourers, removing the existing five-acre eligibility cap. The memorandum also sought Rs 25 lakh compensation for each person who lost their life during the floods along with a government job for one family member, Rs 20 lakh for completely damaged houses, Rs 1 lakh per cow or buffalo, and Rs 20,000 per goat or sheep. It urged the government to provide Rs 1 lakh as one-time financial aid to each labourer family and free sugarcane seed to affected cultivators. The SKM requested economic assistance to restore flood-hit fields filled with sand and silt, along with free distribution of seeds and fertilizers for the next crop season. It also appealed for a one-year extension of loan repayments for affected farmers with the government covering the interest, and demanded Rs 30,000 per acre compensation for paddy crops destroyed by diseases such as Haldi and Madhra blight. Prominent farmer leaders were present during the submission of the memorandum.
