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Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Climate
- Indian Express
No flood-like situation in Punjab, water level in dams within safe limits: Minister Goyal
The water levels in reservoir in Punjab are stable and there is currently no flood-like situation in the state, Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal Monday informed the Vidhan Sabha. Responding to a call attention motion presented by MLA Rana Inder Pratap Singh regarding preventing flood threats in low-lying areas due to rising water levels in reservoirs, Goyal said that water levels in major reservoirs remained within safe limits as of July 10. He informed that the water level at Bhakra Dam stands at 1590.48 ft compared to 1614.89 ft on July 10, 2023 during the floods that year. Similarly, the level at Pong Dam is 1325.48 ft as against 1350.63 ft last year and at Ranjit Sagar Dam, it is 505.41 meters compared to 520.2 meters on July 10, 2023. The minister added that all three reservoirs are operating safely with ample buffer from danger levels. He said the Water Resources Department has executed comprehensive measures to tackle any potential flood situation. The government has allocated Rs 204.5 crore for flood mitigation. Utilizing SDMF, MGNREGA and departmental funds, 599 projects have been taken up, he said. Goyal said that over 4,766 kms of drains and choes have been desilted/cleaned using departmental machinery. Projects for strengthening embankments have been undertaken under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) while 8.76 lakh EC bags have been procured and 2.42 lakh EC bags have been filled and stored across districts, he added. Besides this, 53,400 bamboos have been planted along with completion of 1,044 check dams, 3,957 soak pits, and 294 kms of vetiver grass plantations to enhance soil stability. Goyal also said that control rooms are active across the state, emergency response teams are on standby and real-time monitoring of rivers and drains is underway across vulnerable zones. He reiterated that reservoir levels are stable and are well below critical limits. He said that the government has put robust systems in place at the ground level and in planning to respond swiftly and effectively to any flood threat. Earlier, the Sultanpur MLA drew the attention of the House towards the increase in water level in the reservoirs of the dams due to heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, a marker of flood risk for Punjab. He also pointed towards the 'poor condition' of embankments along the Beas River. Rana Inder Pratap Singh said that in the past six months, he identified 12 to 15 critical locations between Harike and Dhilwan where the embankments were 'alarmingly weak' and highly susceptible to breaches during rising water levels in the reservoirs. Singh said the vulnerabilities were shared in detail with the concerned deputy commissioner and the cabinet minister, and formal reminders were also sent. However, no concrete steps were taken, he claimed. The lawmaker emphasised that all repair and strengthening work needed could have been executed under the MGNREGA scheme, yet the situation persists. Citing an example, he reminded the House that during the 2023 floods, an isolated embankment spanning nearly 125 acres near the Goindwal bridge had obstructed the natural water flow. As a result, all water pressure converged at a single point, increasing the risk of a breach. He urged the Punjab government to undertake desilting in this area to prevent a similar crisis from occurring again. The MLA further sounded an alarm over alleged illegal mining activities in the embankment zones, particularly in areas where temporary structures have been erected by locals. Such unauthorised activity is aggravating the flood risk and must be urgently addressed, he said and urged the government to conduct a thorough inspection of all old and vulnerable embankments.
Hindustan Times
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Minister: Reservoir levels stable, no flood-like situation in Punjab
Barinder Kumar Goyal, water resources minister, Punjab, on Monday informed the legislative assembly that water reservoir levels in the state remain stable and there is currently no flood-like situation in the state. He said that the state government has implemented comprehensive arrangements to address every potential scenario. Barinder Kumar Goyal, water resources minister, Punjab, on Monday informed the legislative assembly that water reservoir levels in the state remain stable and there is currently no flood-like situation in the state. He said that the state government has implemented comprehensive arrangements to address every potential scenario. (HT File) He was responding to a call attention motion by MLA Rana Inder Pratap Singh who raised concerns over the growing flood threat. Speaking during the Zero Hour, the MLA revealed that in the past six months, he has identified 12 to 15 critical locations between Harike and Dhilwan where the embankments are alarmingly weak and highly susceptible to breaches during rising water levels in the reservoirs of the dams. Rana Inder Pratap Singh told the House that these vulnerabilities were shared in detail with the deputy commissioners and the cabinet minister, and reminders were also sent. 'However, no concrete steps were taken even at the sites most in need of urgent reinforcement,' he told the House. The minister said that for flood preparedness, the water resources department has executed measures to tackle any potential flood situation. 'The government has allocated funds worth ₹204.5 crore for flood mitigation. Utilising SDMF, MGNREGA and departmental funds, 599 projects have been taken up', the minister said. According to Rana Inder Partap Singh, during the previous flood season, an isolated embankment spanning nearly 125 acres near the Goindwal bridge had obstructed the natural water flow. 'As a result, all the water pressure converged at a single point, increasing the risk of a breach. He urged the Punjab government to undertake de-silting in this area to prevent a similar crisis from occurring again. He further sounded the alarm over ongoing illegal mining activities within the embankment zones, particularly in areas where temporary structures have been erected by locals.
United News of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Reservoir levels stable in Punjab, no flood threat: Minister
Chandigarh, July 14 (UNI) Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today informed the Legislative Assembly that water reservoir levels across the state remain stable, and there is currently no flood-like situation in the state. He assured that the state government has implemented comprehensive preparedness measures to handle all potential scenarios. Responding to a Call Attention Motion moved by MLA Rana Inder Pratap Singh regarding flood risks in low-lying areas due to rising reservoir levels, the Minister said that as of July 10, 2025, water levels in major reservoirs remain well within safe limits. Providing details, he said that the Bhakra dam level currently stands at 1590.48 ft as compared to 1614.89 ft on July 10, 2023, during the floods that year. The Pong dam is at 1325.48 ft, lower than 1350.63 ft recorded on the same date in 2023. The Ranjit Sagar Dam is at 505.41 meters as compared to 520.2 meters in July 2023. He emphasized that all three reservoirs are operating safely, maintaining ample buffer below danger levels. The Minister highlighted that the Water Resources Department has proactively implemented extensive flood mitigation measures. He said that the government has sanctioned Rs 204.5 crore for flood protection initiatives. A total of 599 projects have been undertaken, using funds from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF), MGNREGA, and departmental allocations. Further, he informed the House that over 4,766 kilometers of drains and choes have been desilted using departmental machinery. Embankments have been strengthened under SDMF. 8.76 lakh EC bags have been procured, with 2.42 lakh bags filled and stored across districts. Additionally, the government has planted 53,400 bamboo plants; constructed 1,044 check dams, built 3,957 soak pits, and planted vetiver grass along 294 kilometers to enhance soil stability and erosion control. Goyal said that control rooms are operational across Punjab, emergency response teams are on standby, and real-time monitoring of rivers and drains is underway in all vulnerable areas. He reiterated that reservoir levels are well below critical limits and affirmed that robust ground-level systems and contingency planning are in place to swiftly and effectively respond to any emerging flood threat. UNI XC BM
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Disaster response: UP submits proposals to finance panel, urges rule revision for funds
LUCKNOW The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday submitted a series of proposals to the 16th Finance Commission to fortify its disaster response and mitigation mechanisms. It strongly advocated inclusion of state-notified disasters—such as heatwaves, lightning strikes, unseasonal rains, storms, snakebites and drownings — in the national list of recognised disasters. This push stems from the reality that these incidents disproportionately impact Uttar Pradesh, stated a release from the state government media cell. Notably, as many 4,534 deaths were reported due to state-notified disasters, compared to 176 from nationally recognized ones, in the financial year 2024–25. Key among these proposals is the request to revise the rules governing the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) to ensure faster and more effective relief for disaster-affected citizens, it said in a statement. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has urged the central government to acknowledge the severity of these challenges and to extend appropriate support. In line with this, the state has proposed increasing the permissible expenditure limit for state-notified disasters from 10% to 25%, reflecting the scale and intensity of their impact, according to the statement. Another notable recommendation seeks to allow flexibility in fund allocation by permitting inter-head budget transfers within disaster funds. This would ensure optimal utilisation of resources, especially in cases where certain allocations remain unspent, it noted. Additionally, the state said it has requested approval to construct dedicated buildings for District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) in every district — a move currently not permitted under existing SDRF and SDMF guidelines. A demand has also been made to allocate 1% of the fund for administrative expenses, which would support the creation of a more robust and responsive administrative framework for disaster management. These proposals are driven by the CM's vision of making disaster management more flexible, efficient and people-centric. With the approval and implementation of these recommendations, the state is poised to become a model for disaster management nationwide, ensuring the safety and well-being of millions of its citizens.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Disaster response: UP submits proposals to Finance Commission, urges rule revision for funds
Lucknow, Highlighting disparity between death counts under state-notified disasters and the nationally recognised ones, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday said it has submitted a series of proposals to the 16th Finance Commission to fortify its disaster response and mitigation mechanisms. Key among these proposals is the request to revise the rules governing the State Disaster Response Fund and the State Disaster Mitigation Fund to ensure faster and more effective relief for disaster-affected citizens, it said in a statement. "The government has strongly advocated for the inclusion of state-notified disasters, such as heatwaves, lightning strikes, unseasonal rains, storms, snakebites, and drownings, in the national list of recognised disasters," it said. "This push stems from the reality that these incidents disproportionately impact Uttar Pradesh. For instance, in the financial year 2024-25, 4,534 deaths were reported due to state-notified disasters, compared to 176 from nationally recognised ones," the government said. According to the statement, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has personally taken the lead in urging the central government to acknowledge the severity of these challenges and to extend appropriate support. In line with this, the state has proposed increasing the permissible expenditure limit for state-notified disasters from 10 per cent to 25 per cent, reflecting the scale and intensity of their impact, it said. Another notable recommendation seeks to allow flexibility in fund allocation by permitting inter-head budget transfers within disaster funds. This would ensure optimal utilisation of resources, especially in cases where certain allocations remain unspent, it noted. Additionally, the state said it has requested approval to construct dedicated buildings for District Disaster Management Authorities in every district — a move currently not permitted under existing SDRF and SDMF guidelines. A demand has also been made to allocate 1 per cent of the fund for administrative expenses, which would support the creation of a more robust and responsive administrative framework for disaster management.
