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Punjab’s sand paradox: Glut in fields, boom in riverbed

Desilting race begins, but quality, valuation and data gaps raise questions

The Beas remains off-limits because it falls within a Ramsar-designated wetland and forest reserve. Goyal attributes the delay to the previous Congress government and says the state will now request central clearance for desilting. (File)

The floodwaters have left Punjab with a paradox. Vast stretches of farmland are buried under cheap sand that farmers are struggling to clear, even as the state’s riverbeds hold sand officially valued at hundreds of crores.

Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal says riverbeds along the Sutlej and Ravi contain an estimated 190 crore cubic feet of sand, valued at Rs 840 crore. But the calculation behind this figure remains unclear. Market prices currently vary widely, from Rs 1 per cubic foot in inundated villages to Rs 32 to 40 per cubic foot in areas unaffected by flooding. How the government arrived at a uniform valuation of Rs 4.42 per cubic foot has not been explained.

The floods also exposed inconsistencies in river-flow data. The Ravi touched a record 14.11 lakh cusecs in late August, against a safe capacity of 60,000 to 1 lakh cusecs. At Yusufpur in Jalandhar, the flow reached 1.64 lakh cusecs. The Sutlej rose to 2.8 to 3.0 lakh cusecs near Ismailpur, but before reaching the Harike barrage, the flow was recorded at 1.64 lakh cusecs, a sharp drop that officials have not yet accounted for.

Desilting has now become a priority. The Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has reduced tender processing time from 21 to 14 days and cleared 85 desilting sites on the Sutlej and Ravi. Officials say this will increase carrying capacity by 1 lakh cusec, taking it from 2.5 lakh to 3.5 lakh cusecs, though they have not specified which river this increase refers to.

On farmland, the focus is immediate restoration. IIT Ropar has been asked to assess the depth and spread of silt deposits, but officials say this is only for documentation and is not linked to compensation or future reclamation policy.

In inundated belts, farmers are depending on one another for labour and machinery. “We pool tractors and earthmovers. One farmer alone cannot handle this volume,” says Bikram Singh from Majha. Much of the deposited sand is of low construction quality. “It is mostly fit for earth filling or tiles,” says Faridkot trader Rakesh Grover. Clean, coarse sand for construction remains scarce in non-affected regions.

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Under the state’s “Jisda Khet, Usda Ret” policy, farmers are allowed to remove and sell sand from their own fields until December 31. However, the policy does not spell out safeguards against soil erosion or nutrient loss. It also remains unclear whether river desilting will depress prices further, affecting farmers who are already selling sand at distress rates simply to prepare for Rabi sowing.

As Punjab begins to dig out, the question ahead is not just about sand. It is about the gaps in data, valuation and planning that the floods have laid bare.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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