Chandigarh, August 31: Punjab’s worst floods in 37 years have been exacerbated by the Union Government’s inaction, Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said on Saturday, blaming delayed dam releases and systemic negligence for the scale of destruction.
Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Goyal said that timely intervention by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) in June could have mitigated the crisis.
“Had BBMB released water in time, the devastation could have been controlled,” he said, adding that while lakhs of people continue to suffer, the Prime Minister has yet to make a statement or extend support. “Forget providing support to Punjab, the Prime Minister has not even commented on the flood situation yet,” he noted.
The minister also criticized Haryana’s dual approach. “While Haryana sends letters offering help, it simultaneously reduced its share of water flow from 7,900 cusecs to 6,250 cusecs to protect its canals and population, leaving Punjab to face the brunt,” Goyal said.
He stressed that despite repeated requests, BBMB did not release adequate water from dams in June, which could have prevented widespread flooding.
Goyal drew attention to a grave lapse by a private contractor. “Level 19 Biz Private Limited, engaged last year to assess Madhopur headworks gates, wrongly certified them as capable of withstanding 6.25 lakh cusecs. The gates failed at even half that capacity, leading to their collapse and the tragic death of a department employee,” he said.
The minister confirmed that the company has been served a strict notice and punitive action is being initiated.
Punjab has faced catastrophic flooding due to heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, compounded by the sudden convergence of waters from khuds and nullahs.
“Although only 2.15 lakh cusecs were released into the Ravi river from Ranjit Sagar Dam, additional flow from neighboring catchments turned the situation into massive destruction,” Goyal said.
He noted that the regulated discharge combined with sudden inflows has surpassed all previous records, causing devastation across seven districts.
Comparing with past floods, Goyal said, “In 1988, the Ravi carried 11.20 lakh cusecs of water. This year it reached 14.11 lakh cusecs, of which 2.15 lakh cusecs came from the dam; the remainder came from khuds, nullahs, and catchments of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab.”
He added, “Three districts were directly impacted by the Ravi, while four others suffered heavy losses from Beas and Sutlej floods, affecting standing crops, livestock, and habitation.”
The minister stressed the state government’s proactive relief measures. Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann ensured timely evacuations, with over 11,330 people moved to 87 relief camps offering food, shelter, and medical care. Nearly 110 persons were airlifted from marooned areas with help from NDRF, SDRF, and Army teams. “Our foremost priority was to save every life. From senior officials to patwaris and volunteers, every arm of the government worked on the ground with the people,” he said.
Livestock evacuation was also prioritized. “Market committee sheds and relief shelters housed animals in Ferozepur and Fazilka, with large quantities of fodder supplied by the government and voluntary organizations. Unlike humans, they cannot call for help. We ensured no animal was left unattended,” Goyal said.
Responding to opposition remarks, Goyal called for unity over blame. “This is not the time for political games but for coordinated action. All political, social, and religious leaders must rise above party lines and support relief efforts,” he said. He also urged empowering states to assess damages and disburse compensation from the national disaster pool, noting their proximity to ground realities.
Prominent officials present at the meeting included Chief Engineer (Headquarters) Jitender Pal Singh and other senior officers.
