{"id":62184,"date":"2025-09-06T12:14:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T06:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=62184"},"modified":"2025-09-06T12:14:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T06:44:57","slug":"punjabs-recurrent-flooding-crisis-rivers-dams-and-governance-failures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/punjabs-recurrent-flooding-crisis-rivers-dams-and-governance-failures\/","title":{"rendered":"Punjab\u2019s Recurrent Flooding Crisis: Rivers, Dams, and Governance Failures"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Punjab Flooding Crisis Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punjab is witnessing one of its worst floods, with all 23 districts declared flood-hit.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over 1,900 villages, 3.8 lakh people, and 11.7 lakh hectares of farmland have been affected, with 43 deaths reported. Gurdaspur is the worst-hit district.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Across the border, Punjab in Pakistan has also faced severe flooding, displacing over 9 lakh people.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the region\u2019s riverine geography makes it naturally flood-prone, human factors have worsened the crisis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Rivers: Boon or Bane for Punjab<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punjab is nourished by three perennial rivers \u2014 Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej \u2014 along with the seasonal Ghaggar and smaller hill streams (choes).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These rivers deposit fertile alluvium, making Punjab one of the most productive agricultural regions globally.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite comprising just 1.5% of India\u2019s landmass, Punjab contributes nearly 20% of the nation\u2019s wheat and 12% of its rice, earning it the title \u201cfood bowl of India.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>The Bane: Recurrent Flooding<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same rivers that sustain agriculture also bring devastation during the monsoon.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rainfall in Punjab and upstream catchments of Himachal Pradesh and J&amp;K causes rivers to swell.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though dhussi bundhs (earthen embankments) offer protection, they are often overwhelmed by heavy inflows.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Floods in 2024 and Historical Recurrence<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punjab has witnessed major floods repeatedly in 1955, 1988, 1993, 2019, and 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year, excessive rainfall triggered flooding once again.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Beas overflowed in August due to heavy rain in Himachal, inundating villages and farmland in Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Hoshiarpur.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soon after, the Ravi swelled dangerously; the collapse of two gates of Madhopur Barrage led to catastrophic flooding in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, and Amritsar.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Widespread Impact of Excess Rainfall<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simultaneously, incessant rainfall across Punjab worsened the crisis.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Sutlej embankments held, the Malwa region experienced severe waterlogging, affecting Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Ropar, Nawanshahr, and Moga.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and J&amp;K have all received over 45% excess rainfall this year, far above seasonal norms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>The Role of Dams in Punjab\u2019s Floods<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every time Punjab faces floods, attention turns to three major dams on its perennial rivers. These are: Bhakra dam; Pong dam; Thein dam.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Bhakra Dam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the Sutlej (Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh) and the <\/span><b>Pong Dam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the Beas (Kangra, Himachal Pradesh) are run by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">BBMB is a statutory body constituted under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0The <\/span><b>Thein or Ranjit Sagar Dam<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the Ravi (border of J&amp;K and Punjab) is managed by Punjab\u2019s State Power Corporation and Irrigation Department.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These dams regulate river flow and play a critical role in flood control.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Release of Water from Dams<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When heavy rainfall fills reservoirs beyond safe levels, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dam operators must release water to avoid overtopping, which can be disastrous<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The BBMB follows a <\/span><b>\u201crule curve<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d that guides how much water should be stored or released based on weather forecasts and hydrology.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, extreme rainfall events often force sudden releases. This year, inflows into the Pong Dam were about <\/span><b>20% higher than 2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an unprecedented surge.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bhakra Dam also saw very high inflows, though not entirely new in scale.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Punjab\u2019s Concerns with BBMB<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punjab has long argued that the BBMB prioritizes irrigation and power generation over flood management.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to state officials, BBMB keeps reservoir levels too high in July and August to secure water for winter farming and power supply, leaving little cushion for sudden heavy rains in August-September.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sudden water releases, often without timely warnings, worsen flooding downstream and leave local officials unprepared.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Governance Issues and Tensions<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the core of Punjab\u2019s problem is the structure of the BBMB.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a Centre-controlled body whose main mandate is irrigation and power, not flood management.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punjab feels it has too little say in the Board\u2019s decisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tensions increased after the Centre amended BBMB rules in 2022, allowing officers from across India\u2014not just Punjab and Haryana\u2014to hold top positions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Punjab criticized the BBMB, accusing it of holding back water until the last moment before suddenly releasing it.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Governance Failures Behind Punjab\u2019s Floods<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts stress that poor dam management, delayed warnings, and weak infrastructure worsened Punjab\u2019s floods this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The collapse of two Madhopur barrage gates after sudden water release from the Thein dam highlighted gaps in coordination within Punjab\u2019s own Irrigation Department.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Environmentalists noted that reservoirs at Ranjit Sagar, Pong, and Bhakra were kept too full and then emptied abruptly, triggering severe downstream flooding.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weak dhussi bundhs, further damaged by illegal mining, added to the crisis.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/why-punjab-keeps-flooding-10232974\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IE<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Punjab reels under recurrent floods due to swollen rivers, dam mismanagement, and weak governance, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable flood management strategies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":62194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,2531,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-62184","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-punjab-flooding-crisis","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62184\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}