Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated the need for additional funding to strengthen state infrastructure, especially in flood-prone areas, pointing to the limitations of the state’s own resources. With recent natural disasters exposing vulnerabilities, Mann underlined that proactive measures, including river embankments, roads, and drainage systems, require not only planning but also significant financial backing from the Union government.
Mann expressed concern over opposition rhetoric, particularly from Akali Dal President **Sukhbir Singh Badal**, who recently boasted of river embankment projects. “The people of Punjab are aware that during their regime, even basic road networks were incomplete in several districts,” Mann said, highlighting the gap between political claims and ground reality. The Chief Minister stressed that current efforts focus on **long-term infrastructure resilience**, ensuring that funds are not misused or misdirected, unlike in the past when public money was circulated in villages primarily for political gain.
The CM added that **state and central collaboration is essential** to mitigate future flood risks, strengthen emergency response mechanisms, and modernize Punjab’s agricultural and urban infrastructure. This includes ensuring that compensation reaches affected families, restoring damaged civic amenities, and building sustainable solutions that will prevent future disasters from causing similar disruption.
