Punjab Water Resources Minister Reviews Flood Situation, Issues Directives to District Administrations
Chandigarh, August 17
In response to the rising water levels in Punjab’s dams due to continuous rainfall in the hilly regions of neighboring Himachal Pradesh, Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal conducted a detailed review of the flood situation in affected districts. He held telephonic discussions with the respective Deputy Commissioners to assess the ground situation and issued strict instructions to ensure immediate relief measures to safeguard lives and property.
During a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, Minister Goyal highlighted that flood-like conditions have emerged in areas along the embankments of rivers passing through districts such as Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, and Firozpur. The rising water levels in rivers and breaches in temporary embankments constructed by farmers have exacerbated the situation.
The minister reported that approximately 14,200 acres of land in Kapurthala, Firozpur, and Fazilka districts have been affected by floodwaters. While the affected area in Kapurthala includes populated regions, the impacted areas in Fazilka and Firozpur are primarily agricultural. He assured that the state government and district administrations are fully committed to providing all possible assistance to the affected population.
Discussing oversight arrangements, Minister Goyal stated that four Superintending Engineers, ten Executive Engineers, twenty Sub-Divisional Officers, and 200 field staff, including Junior Engineers, are maintaining round-the-clock vigilance in the affected areas. The sensitive regions have been divided into sectors to ensure prompt action.
The minister directed Deputy Commissioners to immediately establish relief camps in the affected areas to provide shelter, food, and medical facilities to displaced residents. He confirmed that the embankments constructed by the department remain secure with no overflow reported, and robust teams are conducting 24-hour monitoring on a roster basis.
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Minister Goyal also instructed Deputy Commissioners to make special arrangements for the safety and well-being of livestock, including setting up separate shelters, ensuring the supply of fodder and drinking water, and deploying veterinary teams in affected areas. He emphasized prioritizing medical assistance for children, the elderly, and pregnant women. To prevent waterborne diseases, the minister directed the provision of clean drinking water, mobile health units, and essential medicines without interruption.
Additionally, he instructed the Deputy Commissioners of Tarn Taran and Firozpur to personally oversee 24-hour monitoring of the Harike Headworks, given the increased water flow in the Sutlej and Beas rivers due to heavy rainfall in upstream areas.
Reaffirming the Punjab government’s commitment, Minister Goyal assured that every possible measure is being taken to ensure the safety of Punjab’s residents, with continuous monitoring of the situation.
Chief Engineer (Drainage) Hardip Singh Maindiratta and Chief Engineer (Canals) Sher Singh were also present during the press conference.
