Punjab Strengthens Flood Prevention Measures, Says Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal

Chandigarh, August 10: Punjab’s Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal informed the Assembly on Monday that the government has taken significant steps to enhance flood prevention infrastructure in sensitive areas along the Beas and Sutlej rivers. The focus is on safeguarding villages, agricultural land, and protecting lives and property.

In response to a ‘Notice of Attention’ raised by members Rana Inder Pratap Singh and MLA Rajneesh Kumar Dahiya, Goyal stated that the government has adopted a systematic and technically sound approach to identify, prioritize, and strengthen vulnerable locations.

He explained that the department conducted a comprehensive review of flood prevention measures along the Beas River to identify sensitive areas. Relevant drainage divisions carried out detailed surveys, after which a committee of supervising engineers inspected the sites, identified vulnerable spots, and recommended appropriate technical solutions.

Following this, a high-level committee of chief engineers inspected the identified locations, finalized their priorities, and recommended suitable flood prevention works.

Goyal reported that flood prevention works worth ₹32.09 crore have been completed at the identified sensitive locations using state funds. Of these, 12 projects have been completed, while one is still ongoing.

Completed projects include measures to prevent riverbank erosion by constructing studs, revetments, and spurs downstream of the Aatma Singh Advance Dam No. 1 in Amritpur Rajewal village, Kapurthala district. Flood risk reduction works have also been completed between RD 117,000 and RD 152,000 along the Beas River, as well as flood prevention works on both banks of the West Bein.

Similarly, flood risk reduction works along the Sutlej River in the Gidderpindi Extension River Edge area of Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts have been completed. Repairs and reinforcement of Advance Dam No. 2 and Sujjo Kalia Advance Dam, which were damaged during the floods of 2025, have also been finalized.

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