Chandigarh, April 6 – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Monday that his government has ordered a crop damage assessment to evaluate losses caused by inclement weather, asserting that affected farmers will receive compensation.
Mann was addressing reporters while presenting a four-year report card of the power department.
In response to a question about crop damage in various parts of the state due to rain and hailstorms, the chief minister said, "We have ordered 'girdawari,' and after that, those who have suffered crop damage will receive compensation."
The government is committed to protecting farmers' interests and will compensate for losses caused by natural disasters, he added.
On Sunday, farmers had demanded compensation for crop damage caused by rain and hailstorms in various parts of the state.
Farmers have reported extensive crop damage in locations such as Amritsar, Bathinda, Muktsar, Hoshiarpur, Tarn Taran, and Fatehgarh Sahib due to rain and hailstorms.
Farmers have also requested the state government to conduct a crop damage assessment in affected districts to award them compensation.
In response to a question about a bill to impose stricter punishments for sacrilege, Mann said the state government has convened a special session of the Vidhan Sabha on April 13 to amend the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2008.
"A special session has been called on April 13, and we will introduce a bill in that session," Mann said.
"This is a state law, and it does not need to be sent to the President for approval, and it will be implemented on the same day," Mann claimed.
Last month, Mann had stated a zero-tolerance policy, saying no one involved in "beadbi" (sacrilege) would be spared.
In response to criticism that AAP leader Raghav Chadha did not raise Punjab's concerns in Parliament, Mann said what he is saying now has no relevance, asserting that he went against the party whip.
"What he says now does not hold any relevance," he said.
Taking a dig at Chadha for his remark, "I am wounded, therefore, I am dangerous," Mann dubbed it a dialogue, and said "Wounded" and "Dangerous" are two movie titles.
Chadha shared a video on Sunday showing his interventions on key issues affecting the state.
In response to a question about the Chandigarh bomb blast incident, Mann said the Punjab Police has a track record of solving major cases within 24 hours.
He criticized opposition parties for criticizing him over the recent blast incident outside the Punjab BJP office in Chandigarh.
In response to a question about shifting the entire police staff from a police station in Bathinda after a "sarpanch" claimed inaction in drug-related matters, Mann said the police have been shifted, and an investigation into the matter is ongoing.
He said his government has a zero-tolerance policy against drugs.
Regarding the power sector, Mann said it has undergone a structural turnaround under the AAP government, with the previously loss-making department now recording profits even while providing free electricity to 90 per cent of households.
He highlighted that the government not only ensured zero electricity bills for most families through 600 units of free power but also reversed the previous trend of selling public assets by acquiring the 540 MW Govindwal thermal power plant and significantly improving its efficiency.
Highlighting achievements, Mann said, "Punjab achieved a peak power demand of 16,670 MW on June 5, 2025, surpassing the previous record of 16,058 MW on June 29, 2024."
Regarding infrastructure and fuel supply, Mann said, "Transmission capacity has increased from 7,400/8,000 MW to 10,400/10,900 MW, enabling higher power imports from the national grid."
He added, "Coal supply from Pachwara Coal Mine has resumed, supplying 70 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25 and saving Rs 1,462 crore since October 2022."
He further said there is no coal shortage in any thermal plant, with Ropar having 41 days stock, Lehra Mohabbat 37 days and Goindwal Sahib 32 days.
He added that the 206-MW Shahpur Kandi Hydel Project is expected to begin generation by May 2027, with Rs 5,192.51 crore already spent till September 2025.
"The share of green energy will be increased from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in the next six years," he added.
He said 2,720-MW solar power has been tied up at Rs 2.33-Rs 2.97 per unit, compared to Rs 15.20 per unit during previous regimes.
Announcing a new initiative, Mann said, "The government will soon launch a scheme to put high-tension wires passing through farmers' fields underground, starting from my native village where 413 tube wells and 1,100 electric poles are spread across 2,000 acres."