Encroachments, climate change may have led to Punjab’s worst floods in decades
Chandigarh
Punjab, the cereal bowl of the country, is fighting one of the worst floods affecting about four lakh people, demanding 48 lives, influencing approximately 2,000 villages, and estimated with a loss of over 13,000 Crore.
While heavy rains and overflowing rivers continue to be primary triggers, experts and official assessments, drainage systems, natural water channels and irregular construction activities such as road flooring, such as the crisis of human interventions stress.
Punjab witnessed great floods in 2023, 2019, 2013, 2010, 2008 and 2004. Bringing approximately 75% of the annual rainfall of the state, every monsoon causes loss of life and great damage to crops, homes and public services. This year, sutlege, ravi and beas rivers, agricultural lands, roads and low areas hanging, SPATE. While paddy harvest weeks away, standing crops were destroyed and united the losses to farmers and rural economy. Important animal losses worsened the effect.
Human Factors
According to official estimates, more than 1,72 lacquer hectares in 18 of Punjab’s 23 regions were damaged. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema called the worst flood in five years.
“More than 22,000 people have been evacuated. The final report of the damage can be prepared after the floods have been withdrawn, but the union government should immediately release the state’s waiting dues, as well as additional financial aid.”
The flood preparation guide of the water resources department 2024 emphasizes the heavy monsoon rain as the most common cause of flood, but also underlines human -made factors. While warning that physical barriers block natural drains, irregular development, including construction along the river coast, prevents water flow. The report also reduces the flood risks of reservoirs and sets on beas, sutlege and ravi, while heavy release from the reservoirs, as well as threats continue due to violations in the sets.
Trade Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused illegal mining during a state visit on 4 September. “When [late] Atal Bihari VajPayee Prime Minister and [late] Prakash Singh Badal was strengthened and raised along the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar rivers to protect the crops from floods. However, they weakened because of illegal mining and entered the villages. ”He rejected Mr. Chouhan’s claim of Finance Minister, and called him a“ open prejudice against Punjab.
Neglect pattern
Experts argue that the unreachable construction and the miner increases the fragility of the state.
Ranjit Sagar and the former chief engineer of Shahpurkandi Dam Projects Sk Saluja said: “For years, rapes through settlements close to rivers and rivets. Sequential governments could not control them.”
Saluja said that non -scientific construction works also prevent water flow.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), since the beginning of the monsoon on June 24, the state has received 591.8 mm rainfall. The current floods are compared with the 1988, when more than 500 people lost their lives.
‘The subject of concern’
Chandigarh’s scientist and IMD Director Surer Paul said that the effect of climate change was clear.
“Change in weather conditions may be seen due to climate change. In the last decade, rainfall has become more inconsistent in the last decade. Monsoon is not uniform, it is a concern,” he said.
Mausam’s Board of Trustees (Movement of Progress on Sustainability and Reciprocity) Climate Specialist Soumya Dutta, Hindu, said that global warming is directly intensified.
Dutta, “The primary repulsive factor behind the heavy rains in the Punjab and the northern region is global. The Arabian sea is unusually warmed, which brings more moisture. This is new normal,” he said.
He added that the management of hydroelectric dams should be developed.
Published – 08 September 2025 01:08
