Chandigarh, August 17:
In light of rising water levels in Punjab’s dams due to persistent rainfall over several days in the mountainous regions of neighboring Himachal Pradesh, Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today reviewed the prevailing situation in several districts through detailed telephonic conversations with the concerned Deputy Commissioners. The Minister issued strict instructions to ensure swift mitigation measures and safeguard lives and property.
Divulging further details while addressing the media persons here at Punjab Bhawan, the Cabinet Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal informed that flood-like conditions have emerged within the land between embankments of rivers passing through Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts due to rising water levels in rivers and breaches in temporary embankments constructed by farmers within the flood plains.
He said that that around 14,200 acres across Kapurthala, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts have been affected by floodwaters. He specified that among the affected areas, Kapurthala district’s impacted land comprises residential settlements, while the affected areas in Fazilka and Ferozepur are primarily agricultural land under cultivation. He said that both the state government and district administration are fully committed to providing all possible assistance to the affected population.
Discussing the departmental surveillance management system, the Cabinet Minister informed that field operations involve continuous 24-hour monitoring by four Superintending Engineers (SEs), 10 Executive Engineers (XENs), 20 Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and 200 field staff members (including Junior Engineers). He explained that the entire vulnerable region has been systematically divided into sectors to facilitate immediate response and intervention measures.
Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal directed Deputy Commissioners to immediately set up relief camps in the affected regions to provide shelter, food and medical facilities to the displaced population. He stated that the embankments built by the department are safe and no water has overflowed from these embankments. Strict vigilance is being maintained 24×7 over these embankments by strong roster-based teams.
The Cabinet Minister further instructed Deputy Commissioners to make special arrangements for the safety and well-being of livestock, including setting up separate shelters, ensuring fodder and drinking water supplies and deploying veterinary teams in affected areas. He stressed that vulnerable groups such as children, elderly persons and pregnant women must receive priority medical assistance. He directed that arrangements for clean drinking water, mobile health units and uninterrupted supply of essential medicines must be ensured to prevent any outbreak of waterborne diseases.
The Cabinet Minister also instructed the Deputy Commissioners of Tarn Taran and Ferozepur to personally monitor the Harike headworks round-the-clock in view of increased water inflow from the Sutlej and Beas rivers due to heavy rains in upper areas.
Reiterating the commitment of the Punjab Government, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal assured that every possible measure is being taken to protect the people of Punjab and that continuous monitoring of the situation is underway.
The Cabinet Minister was accompanied by Chief Engineer (Drainage) S. Hardeep Singh Mendiratta and Chief Engineer (Canals) S. Sher Singh.
