Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Monday, 10 August informed the state Assembly that the government has carried out comprehensive flood protection works worth ₹32.09 crore along vulnerable stretches of the Beas and Sutlej rivers, with a focus on protecting villages, agricultural land, and lives and property.

What Prompted the Assembly Discussion

The minister was responding to calling attention notices raised by MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh — concerning vulnerable points along the Beas from Beas Bridge on Amritsar Road to Harike Pattan — and by MLA Rajneesh Kumar Dahiya, who flagged flood protection structures along the Sutlej in Mamdot sub-tehsil. Goyal assured the House that the government has adopted a systematic, technically sound approach to identifying and strengthening at-risk locations.

How Vulnerable Sites Were Identified

The Water Resources Department conducted a comprehensive review of the flood protection system along the Beas. Detailed surveys were first carried out by concerned drainage divisions, followed by field inspections conducted by a committee of Superintending Engineers, who identified vulnerable sites and recommended technical remedies.

A subsequent high-level committee of Chief Engineers inspected the same locations, finalised their priority ranking, and recommended appropriate flood protection works. The two-tier inspection process was designed to ensure both technical rigour and prioritisation based on risk severity.

Key Works Completed and Ongoing

Of the ₹32.09 crore in flood protection works undertaken through state funds, 12 works have been completed and one is currently under execution. Completed interventions include:

River erosion mitigation measures — including construction of studs, revetments, and spurs — downstream of Atma Singh Advance Bandh Number One at Amritpur Rajewal Village in Kapurthala district. Flood risk mitigation works along the Beas between RD 117,000 and RD 152,000, as well as flood protection works along both sides of the West Bein, have also been completed.

On the Sutlej, flood risk mitigation works in the Gidderpindi Extension River Edge area spanning Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts have been completed. Critically, the restoration and strengthening of Advance Bandh Number Two and Sujjo Kalia Advance Bandh — both damaged during the 2025 floods — have also been finished.

Broader Context and What It Signals

Punjab has historically faced severe flood damage along the Beas and Sutlej corridors, with the 2025 monsoon season causing significant breaches to existing embankments. The repair of structures damaged just last year underscores the recurring nature of the challenge. This comes amid growing calls from opposition legislators and farming communities for long-term, durable flood infrastructure rather than reactive, post-damage restoration.

With the 2025 monsoon season still fresh in memory and the current monsoon active, the completion of 12 protection works provides some reassurance — though the status of the remaining ongoing work will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.