Punjab seeks support for Rangla Punjab Vikas Fund as industries, NRIs join rebuilding effort
Chandigarh: The Punjab government has appealed to industrialists and non-resident Indians (NRIs) to contribute generously to the newly created Rangla Punjab Vikas Fund, aimed at rebuilding the state after the recent floods.
On Tuesday, representatives of 13 leading industries from Ludhiana handed over cheques worth Rs 5.32 crore to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Individual contributions ranged from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
Industry and NRI Affairs Minister Sanjeev Arora also donated Rs 50 lakh to the fund. Urging corporates and NRIs to come forward, he said, “Donations to the fund are exempt under the Foreign Currency Regulations Act and also count as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending. I request everyone to contribute liberally.”
Arora underlined the scale of destruction, noting that 8,500 km of roads and 2,500 bridges were damaged, alongside 2,500 villages, 3,200 school buildings, 1,400 public health facilities and other government infrastructure.
Those who contributed included Nahar Industries, Happy Forgings, Ceigall India, Octave Apparels, Vardhman Spinning Mills, Trident Group, GB Realty Group, Bector Foods, Ari Sudana Spinning Mills, Rockman Foundation, the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings and Ralson Group.
Meanwhile, Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said all 219 relief camps set up during the floods had now been closed, with displaced families returning to their homes.
He informed that since August 1, nearly 23,340 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas. At relief camps, the administration had provided temporary shelter, food, medicines and essential services. With conditions improving, sanitation drives such as debris clearance, carcass disposal, sewer cleaning and repair of public assets were also undertaken.