Rana Gurjeet demands judicial probe into Punjab floods, blames BBMB for catastrophe

“The devastation that Punjab is currently grappling with is not due to nature alone, but due to a complete lack of preparedness and mismanagement by the state government,” said the MLA.

He also held the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) accountable, stating that it shares the onus for the catastrophe. “The BBMB failed in forward planning and reservoir management at the Bhakra and Pong dams over rivers Sutlej and Beas. Their inability to properly regulate the inflow and outflow of water contributed significantly to the disaster,” he added.

Rana Gurjeet Singh said the flood waters have also flown down from Ranjit Sagar Dam built over river Ravi.

He said BBMB must be made to compensate for the losses suffered by the people of Punjab and should propose a comprehensive overhaul of how water resources are managed in the region.

To prevent such disasters in the future, Rana Gurjeet Singh proposed the constitution of an expert committee comprising internationally renowned experts, engineers, and domain specialists. This committee would be tasked with assessing the full scope of the disaster, identifying the failures, and recommending corrective measures, he said. He emphasized that the panel should also suggest effective strategies for regulating dam operations under changing climate conditions.

Highlighting the lack of coordination in relief operations, Kapurthala legislator Singh said, “There is no shortage of relief material or volunteers, but the movement of politicians and VIPs in affected areas is disrupting relief efforts. The government must regulate such movements to ensure efficient delivery of aid.”

Rana Gurjeet Singh also called upon Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to immediately announce a policy for de-silting of farmlands that have been inundated with silt-laden floodwaters. Farmers are facing irreparable damage. Without immediate soil restoration measures, agriculture will suffer in the long term, he said. “Farmers should be allowed to sell the sand which has flown into their farmlands,” he suggested.

He further suggested that the charge of director irrigation in BBMB for management of dam, reservoirs, and irrigation systems be handed over to engineers from Punjab, who have a better understanding of the topography and irrigation needs. “Local expertise must be prioritized for efficient and sensitive water management,” he said.

The MLA also underlined the urgent need to study climate change patterns that are affecting rainfall and river flow dynamics. Citing the example of the Ranjit Sagar Dam over the Ravi River, he noted that residents of Ferozepur and Fazilka were caught off guard due to sudden and unregulated water releases.

He recommended the development of a water recharge system that could absorb floodwater into the soil, thereby reducing the impact of inundation and contributing to groundwater replenishment. “The people of Punjab deserve answers and accountability and this should never happen again,” said Rana Gurjeet Singh.

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