Central authorities will be pressured to address the demands of grain traders (arhtiyas) by Bhagwant Mann.

Central authorities will be pressured to address the demands of grain traders (arhtiyas) by Bhagwant Mann.

In the aftermath of the catastrophic floods that have affected over 2 million people in more than 2,300 villages across the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has taken immediate action. The floods have left approximately seven lakh people homeless and caused extensive damage to crops across over five lakh acres, with initial estimated damages totalling approximately ₹13,800 crore.

On Friday, Mann chaired a meeting with arhtiyas (commission agents) to discuss their concerns and pledged to act as their voice, promising to raise their genuine demands with the central government. The matter of enhancing the commission of arhtiyas has already been taken up with the central government by Mann, who alleged that they have been giving them a cold shoulder.

Mann emphasized that his government is committed to addressing the legitimate concerns of the arhtiyas with utmost seriousness. In a bid to alleviate their struggles, he announced that the state government will increase the validity of arhtiyas licenses from five to ten years, with new permits to be issued within 48 hours. Additionally, the government will soon introduce a One-Time Settlement scheme to clear pending arrears, fines, and interest related to non-construction of shops allotted to arhtiyas when the 'mandis' were originally established.

The floods have also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, with 8,500 km of roads and 2,500 bridges reported damaged. Many government buildings and facilities, including schools, colleges, clinics, hospitals, roads, and bridges, have been affected. Approximately 3,200 schools, 19 colleges, 1,400 clinics and hospitals have been damaged.

During the meeting, Mann spoke about the widespread destruction caused by the recent floods, which claimed 57 lives. He stated that the state is in crisis and does not expect any financial aid from the Centre. The state government will raise the genuine demands of the arhtiyas with the Centre in an effort to mitigate the impact of the floods on the affected people.

In conclusion, the Punjab government is taking immediate action to address the aftermath of the devastating floods, with a particular focus on supporting the arhtiyas and alleviating their struggles. The government is committed to acting with utmost seriousness in addressing the legitimate concerns of the affected people and rebuilding the damaged infrastructure.

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