Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is set to announce a new policy that will allow farmers to mine and sell the sand deposited in their fields due to the recent floods. The announcement is expected within the next two to three days, according to Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia.

The decision comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Punjab on September 9 to review flood damage and announce relief measures for affected families.

Sisodia said the government has been actively working on the ground since the floods began, but farmers remain concerned not only about the crops that were destroyed but also about their upcoming kharif season. In several districts, floodwaters have left behind thick layers of sand—sometimes more than two feet deep—making cultivation difficult.

Since mining activities are currently prohibited without prior permission, the Bhagwant Mann-led government plans to permit farmers to extract and sell the sand, which will also help them clear their fields for agricultural use.

Sisodia added that this policy proposal was shaped by feedback received during his visits to flood-hit areas in Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is currently unwell and undergoing treatment in hospital, has also been briefed about farmers’ concerns and supported the initiative.