Chandigarh, Oct. 1 -- Amid claims and counter-claims over funds in the state's disaster relief kitty, the Punjab government on Tuesday requested the 16th Finance Commission for a special long-term rehabilitation package for the flood-ravaged state and conversion of the state disaster response fund (SDRF) into a non-interest-bearing reserve. It also admitted a total SDRF fund balance of Rs.12,268 crore, including interest accumulation of Rs.7,263 crore.

A high-level state delegation comprising finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, chief secretary KAP Sinha, and additional chief secretary, finance, Alok Shekhar, met 16th Finance Commission chairman Dr Arvind Panagariya in Delhi and presented the case for the package to the state, citing th...