Punjab Minister Criticizes Union Government for Severe Flooding Crisis

Punjab's Water Resources Minister, Barinder Kumar Goyal, has publicly condemned the Union Government for its role in the state's devastating floods, the worst in 37 years. He highlighted the failure to release water in a timely manner and criticized Haryana's contradictory actions that worsened the situation. Goyal also pointed to a private contractor's negligence regarding the structural integrity of flood control gates, which contributed to the disaster. The Minister emphasized the government's relief efforts, including the evacuation of over 11,000 people and the care of livestock. He called for unity among political leaders to address the crisis effectively.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 31, 2025, 13:27 IST

Punjab's Flood Crisis: Minister's Strong Accusations

Barinder Kumar Goyal, the Water Resources Minister of Punjab, has strongly criticized the Union Government, attributing the state's severe flooding, the worst in 37 years, to its negligence. During a press conference at Punjab Bhawan, he emphasized that if the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) had released water in a timely manner in June, the extent of the damage could have been significantly lessened.

Goyal expressed frustration that despite the ongoing suffering of countless residents, the Prime Minister has remained silent on the issue and has not offered any assistance to the state.

He raised concerns about Haryana's contradictory actions, stating that while it has sent letters offering help, it simultaneously reduced Punjab's water flow during the monsoon from 7,900 cusecs to 6,250 cusecs, prioritizing its own canal systems and leaving Punjab to face the floods alone. He noted that BBMB failed to release sufficient water from dams in June, which could have alleviated the flooding situation.

The Minister revealed that a private firm, Level 19 Biz Private Limited, had incorrectly certified the structural integrity of the Madhopur headworks gates, claiming they could withstand 6.25 lakh cusecs of water. However, the gates collapsed under much lower pressure, resulting in the tragic death of a department employee. Goyal stated that this negligence has exacerbated the crisis, and the company is facing punitive measures.

He explained that heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, combined with water from local streams, has led to one of the most catastrophic floods in Punjab's history, surpassing even the disastrous floods of 1988. He pointed out that while only 2.15 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Ranjit Sagar Dam, the additional influx from surrounding areas has caused unprecedented destruction across seven districts.

Goyal compared the current situation to the 1988 floods, noting that the Ravi River carried 14.11 lakh cusecs this year, significantly more than the 11.20 lakh cusecs recorded in 1988. He highlighted that the floods have severely impacted three districts directly and caused extensive damage in four others due to the Beas and Sutlej rivers.

In terms of relief efforts, Goyal reported that the government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has successfully evacuated over 11,330 individuals to 87 relief camps, providing food, shelter, and medical assistance. Additionally, around 110 people were airlifted from isolated areas with help from the NDRF, SDRF, and Army.

The Minister also mentioned that livestock evacuation has been prioritized, with shelters established for animals in affected regions, ensuring they receive adequate care and fodder. He stressed the importance of looking after livestock, as they cannot voice their distress.

Addressing the opposition's comments, Goyal urged for unity rather than blame, calling on all political, social, and religious leaders to collaborate in relief efforts. He also advocated for empowering states to assess damages and distribute compensation from the national disaster fund, as they are most familiar with the ground realities.

Among those present at the meeting were Mr. Jitender Pal Singh, Chief Engineer (Headquarters), and other senior officials.