NGT issues notice to BBMB, Punjab over floods in state

The matter has now entered the stage of formal adjudication, with the next hearing expected in March 2026.

On Monday, PAC members Jaskirat Singh and Kuldeep Singh Khaira told the media that the committee had approached the Centre and the Punjab government seeking a probe into the causes of repeated flooding in the state. This came after the panel had analysed the dam inflow and outflow data in 2023. Soon after, the PAC members alleged that from October 2023 onwards, the BBMB stopped placing critical dam operation data — such as inflows, outflows and reservoir levels — in the public domain.

PAC pointed out that such disclosures were historically made public and are mandated under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, Section 35(1)(e). It requires dam authorities to share information relating to anticipated inflows, outflows, flood warnings and downstream impacts for public safety. The discontinuation, PAC alleged, deprived administrations, farmers and the public of timely information during floods.

Kapil Arora and Amandeep Singh Bains of PAC said the committee analysed the dam operation data again in 2025 and apprehended a renewed flood risk in Punjab. Accordingly, PAC served a notice on August 9 to BBMB, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Punjab Government, urging preventive measures in line with the Precautionary Principle.

They alleged that despite the IMD forecasts of heavy rainfall from mid-August, reservoir levels were allowed to rise and water releases were carried out under high inflow conditions. PAC also submitted that reservoir operation targets — particularly the practice of reaching around 1,680 feet by the end of August — are arbitrary and unscientific, especially in the context of ageing infrastructure, unchanged rule curves since 1990 and changing climate patterns. According to PAC, these factors have contributed to at least three major floods in Punjab over the past six years.

Following the Tribunal’s directions at the first hearing, PAC filed affidavits disclosing the sources of information and placed on record documents indicating dam deflection at reservoir levels lower than traditionally targeted levels.

At a subsequent hearing, the Tribunal noted that these filings were not reflected on the record and directed the Registry to verify and place them on record if found defect-free.

PAC said the case now focuses on whether statutory obligations under the Dam Safety Act, including data disclosure, maintenance of flood cushion and precautionary dam operations were complied with.

The petition also raises concerns about the structural behaviour of the Bhakra Dam, citing recorded deflection at high reservoir levels as noted in BBMB technical committee discussions.

At the third hearing held Monday, the NGT directed issuance of notice to the respondents.

PAC said further details would be shared once the formal order of the Tribunal is uploaded.