Sukhbir Badal seeks compensation for farmers after paddy swept away in Fazilka Mandi
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, October 11, 2026: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday demanded immediate compensation for farmers whose paddy was swept away during flooding at the Fazilka grain market, along with a special girdawari to assess crop losses caused by heavy rain across Punjab.
Badal said the Fazilka grain market was submerged under five to six feet of water following heavy rainfall, inundating paddy heaps and washing away a substantial quantity of the harvested crop. He added that prolonged submergence could further damage the paddy brought to the market and called for adequate compensation for affected farmers.
Blaming inadequate drainage facilities for the losses, the SAD president said authorities had failed to take sufficient precautionary measures despite forecasts of heavy rain. He called for immediate improvements to drainage systems in grain markets across the state to prevent similar incidents.
Badal also demanded a comprehensive girdawari in all areas where standing paddy crops had been flattened by heavy rainfall. He sought advance compensation of ₹50,000 per acre, citing a commitment made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The SAD president further questioned the delay in compensation for crop damage suffered by farmers over the past two years, alleging that farmers affected by floods and hailstorms had not received the promised relief.