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Chandigarh (Punjab) [भारत]July 16 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Punjab President Kewal Singh Dhillon has written a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann raising questions on the state's preparedness to deal with any floods in the wake of monsoon. He alleged that there has been a failure in cleaning the drains and drainage channels.

In a letter, Dhillon said that with the approach of monsoon there is once again an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among the people of Punjab. He said recent reports of breaches in embankments along various rivers and cracks in canals and distributaries have further heightened public concern. He alleged that the cleaning of drainage channels and flood drains has still not been completed. He said that drains in urban areas and drainage channels in villages are filled with silt, plastic waste and garbage.

Dhillon warned that if cities or villages get submerged after the first round of heavy rains, the Punjab government will be directly responsible for the damage caused.

Demanded account of Rs 642.4 crore received from the Center

Citing the assistance provided by the central government, the BJP leader in Parliament said that during the financial year 2025-26, the Center released Rs 481.6 crore to the state under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Adding to this the Punjab Government's contribution of Rs 160.8 crore, the total amount available was Rs 642.4 crore, exclusively for flood relief, strengthening of embankments and disaster management.

Dhillon asked the Chief Minister to explain where Rs 642.4 crore was spent, which embankments were strengthened, which drains were cleaned and how many affected people benefited from these funds. He said that the Central Government has fulfilled its responsibility by releasing the money on time, and now it is up to the Punjab Government to explain how these funds have been utilized.

Dhillon urged the Chief Minister to take responsibility and alleged that attempts were being made to hide the government's failures. (ANI)