Editorial 1: Why Punjab keeps flooding
Context:
Recently Punjab faced its worst flood. The state government has declared all its 13 districts as flood-hit. Punjab is flooded in rainy season due to its geography. It is considered as the land of five rivers which are flooded in monsoon. Also, the human factors contribute to these floods making the situation worst.
Floods are caused by Rivers flowing beyond their carrying capacity:
- Three perennial Indus water tributaries flow through Punjab- Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Also, Ghaggar River and several small tributaries and hill streams, locally known as choes, flows through the state.
- These rivers carry and deposit the alluvium they carry on their river banks. This makes Punjab alluvium rich and agriculturally one of the most fertile places in India. Punjab now produces nearly 20% of the India’s whet and 12% of its rice production. It accounts for merely 1.5% of its geographical area.
- However, Punjab also faces the flood-like situation due to these rivers. Rivers are swollen due to rainfall in Punjab and upper catchment areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
- Ann elaborate system of earth embankments, locally known as Dhussi bandhs, forms the first line of defense against the flooding. However, they are often overwhelmed by these floods.
- This year heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have lead to Beas swelling greatly. Ravi was also swollen due to rainfall in Himachal and J&K. This caused the collapse of Madhopur Barrage. As a result, many parts of Punjab were inundated due to heavy low in Ravi.
- The incessant rain in Punjab’s Malwa region has caused water logging in many districts of Punjab.
- According to IMD, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and J&K have all recorded more than 45% excess rainfall (above the normal rainfall).
Dams and their Management Boards make the flood situation worst:
- Three dams located upstream on the perennial rivers of Punjab play a significant role in controlling the river’s flow downstream.
- The Bhakra Nangal Dam situated on Sutlej is located in Bilaspur district and Pong Dam on the Beas River is located in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Both are operated by Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB). BBMB is a statutory body constituted under Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966.
- Thein Dam, officially called Ranjit Sagar dam, is on the river Ravi. It is located at the border of J&K and Punjab. It is operated by Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd and state’s irrigation department.
- Water is released from these dams to prevent overtopping if the excessive rain fills up the dams. Overtopping is the catastrophic event caused when the water level in reservoir exceeds the dam’s crest.
- Even the controlled water release during the heavy rainfall can cause flooding downstream.
- Punjab state officials have accused BBMB of mismanagement in the operation of these floods. It was stated that BBMB keeps reservoir levels too high in July and August to ensure water for irrigation and power. There isn’t any storage capacity left when sudden rain arrives in August and September.
- BBMB also has not provided any timely warnings. And the sudden water release has caused blindsiding of state officials downstream. Thus, there was no coordination between Punjab state officials and BBMB to manage the safe water release.
- BBMB is controlled by Centre with the mandate to provide irrigation and generate power. It has failed in flood management. This has d to disenchantment of Punjab. Also, the amendment to BBMB rules in 2022 has allowed officers across India and not just Punjab and Haryana, to hold post in BBMB. This has led to the feeling that voice of Punjab is stifled in BBMB.
Problem with the Dam governance:
- Experts have called for the better management of Dams. The Madhopur barrage was destroyed due to sudden water release by Thein dam.
- Also, there is lack of communication between the officials upstream and downstream as the gates were not opened on time.
- The illegal mining of the riverbeds for the sand and other minerals have caused the weakness of these earthen embankments.
Way Forward:
The floods in Punjab are aggravated due to mismanagement of dam authorities. The illegal mining worsens the situation by weakening these embankments. State and Punjab governments must coordinate to provide immediate relief to victims of flood. Also, they must take long-term measures such as improving governance structure of dam authorities, curbing illegal sand mining, regular de-silting of dams.