Sufficient flood protection measures taken: Punjab Minister

Chandigarh, Aug 10 (IANS) Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Monday informed the Assembly that the government has undertaken comprehensive measures to strengthen flood protection infrastructure along vulnerable stretches of the Beas and Sutlej rivers, with special focus on safeguarding villages, agricultural land and lives and property.

Replying to calling attention notices raised by member Rana Inder Partap Singh regarding vulnerable points along the Beas from Beas Bridge on Amritsar Road to Harike Pattan, and MLA Rajneesh Kumar Dahiya concerning flood protection structures along the Sutlej in Mamdot sub‑tehsil, the minister said the government has adopted a systematic and technically sound approach towards identification, prioritisation and strengthening of vulnerable locations.

He said the department comprehensively reviewed the flood protection system along the Beas to identify vulnerable locations. Detailed surveys were conducted by the concerned drainage divisions, after which a committee of Superintending Engineers carried out field inspections, identified vulnerable sites and recommended appropriate technical measures.

Subsequently, a high‑level committee of Chief Engineers inspected the identified locations, finalised their priorities and recommended suitable flood protection works.

Goyal said flood protection works amounting to Rs 32.09 crore have been undertaken through state funds at the identified vulnerable locations. Of these, 12 works have already been completed, while one work is currently under execution.

The completed works include river erosion mitigation measures through construction of studs, revetments and spurs downstream of Atma Singh Advance Bandh number one at Amritpur Rajewal Village in Kapurthala district. Flood risk mitigation works along the Beas between RD 117,000 and RD 152,000, as well as flood protection works along both sides of the West Bein, have also been completed.

Similarly, flood risk mitigation works along the Sutlej in the Gidderpindi Extension River Edge area in Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts have been completed. The restoration and strengthening of Advance Bandh number two and Sujjo Kalia Advance Bandh, which were damaged during the 2025 floods, have also been completed.

–IANS

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