Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today informed the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that the State Government has undertaken comprehensive measures to strengthen flood protection infrastructure along the vulnerable stretches of River Beas and River Sutlej, with special focus on safeguarding villages, agricultural land and the lives and property of residents living in flood-prone areas.
Replying to Calling Attention Notices raised by MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh regarding vulnerable points along River Beas from Beas Bridge on Amritsar Road to Harike Pattan and MLA Rajneesh Kumar Dahiya concerning flood protection structures along River Sutlej in Sub-Tehsil Mamdot, the Water Resources Minister said that the Government has adopted a systematic and technically sound approach towards identification, prioritisation and strengthening of vulnerable locations.
Responding to MLA Rana Inder Partap Singh, the Cabinet Minister said that the flood protection system along River Beas, extending from Beas Bridge on Amritsar Road to Harike Pattan, was comprehensively reviewed by the Department to identify vulnerable locations. Detailed surveys were conducted by the concerned Drainage Divisions, following which a Committee of Superintending Engineers carried out field inspections, identified vulnerable sites and recommended appropriate technical measures. Subsequently, a High-Level Committee of Chief Engineers inspected the identified locations, finalised their priorities and recommended suitable flood protection works.
The Water Resources Minister said that vulnerable locations were identified at several places along the Beas, including Village Amritpur; Bharoana, Sheikh Manga and Sarupwal; Bhagobuddha, Alluwal and Lodhiwal; Yusafpur Darwal, Takia, Gidderpindi and Bharoana; Baupur Island, Ahli Khurd and Ahli Kalan; Chuharpur, Sherpur Dogra and Khijrpur; Mansurwal, Butala and Dhilwan; Goindwal; Verowal and Hansawala; Gharka on both banks of the river; and Marrar on the right bank of River Beas.
Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that flood protection works amounting to Rs.32.09 crore have been undertaken through State funds at the identified vulnerable locations. Of these, 12 works have already been completed, while one work is currently under execution.
The completed works include river erosion mitigation measures through construction of studs, revetments and spurs downstream of RD 45,250 of S. Atma Singh Advance Bandh No. 1 at Village Amritpur Rajewal 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.
Similarly, flood risk mitigation works along the Sutlej in the Gidderpindi Extension River Edge area in Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts have been completed. The restoration and strengthening of Advance Bandh No. 2 and Sujjo Kalia Advance Bandh, which were damaged during the 2025 floods, have also been completed.
He informed that the department has further completed the strengthening of flood protection structures upstream of Dhilwan, raising and strengthening of the Goindwal Embankment, raising and strengthening of the Verowal and Guide Embankments and provision of revetment at Village Gharhka on both banks of River Beas.
The Cabinet Minister said that the 360-foot-long revetment at Village Marrar on the right bank of River Beas is presently under progress.
He said that apart from works undertaken through State funds, the Department has also executed Rs.11.98 crore worth of flood protection and river erosion control works under MGNREGA near Ahli Kalan, Ahli Khurd, Safdarpur-Khijrpur and Gharhka.
He said that these works have been undertaken with the objective of protecting villages and agricultural land from floods and river erosion.
The Cabinet Minister further informed the House that no breach has occurred in any flood protection embankment along this stretch of the Beas during the last five flood seasons.
Replying to the Calling Attention Notice raised by MLA Rajneesh Kumar Dahiya, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the villages of Dona Telu Mall, Kalu Arain Hithar, Fattewala Hithar, Ruhela Hazi, Gandhu Kilcha Hithar and Nihala Kilcha, falling under Sub-Tehsil Mamdot, are situated on the left bank of River Sutlej. Gandhu Kilcha Hithar and Dona Telu Mall are located along the river bank, while the remaining villages are situated at some distance from the river.
Clarifying the reference to Stud Nos. 512 to 520, the Cabinet Minister said that the Department does not assign separate numbering to flood protection structures in this manner. Flood protection works are identified and monitored with reference to the RD system of the Flood Protection Bundh.
He said that the structures referred to in Sub-Tehsil Mamdot were constructed around 1995 at Village Dona Telu Mall along the Flood Protection Bundh between RD 12,410 and RD 16,500. During previous flood seasons, high water levels and submergence caused damage to two spurs and eight studs along the berm. However, the Flood Protection Bundh itself remained intact and did not suffer any damage.
The Water Resources Minister said that the present condition of the damaged structures has already been assessed through field inspection. On the basis of recommendations made by the field-level committee, a proposal for the repair and reconstruction of the damaged structures has been included in the Flood Management Programme and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted to the Government of India for approval.
Sh. Goyal said that, keeping in view the vulnerability of the flood protection system in Sub-Tehsil Mamdot, the Water Resources Department has already carried out a comprehensive review of vulnerable locations under the Flood Preparedness Programme for 2026-27.
A Committee of Superintending Engineers inspected the vulnerable locations and recommended appropriate technical measures. Thereafter, a High-Level Committee of Chief Engineers examined the proposals, prioritised the works and finalised the flood protection programme.
The Cabinet Minister further informed the House that, keeping in view the vulnerability of the flood protection system in the Mamdot area, the Department has already constructed one new spur, 700 feet of geo-bag revetment and five studs at Village Gandhu Kilcha Hithar between RD 10,650 and RD 11,700.
He said that an expenditure of approximately Rs.5 crore has been incurred on these works. These measures, he said, have substantially strengthened the flood protection infrastructure and enhanced the safety of villages and agricultural land along River Sutlej against future flood risks.
The Water Resources Minister reiterated that the Punjab Government is committed to strengthening flood protection infrastructure on a priority basis and ensuring timely preventive measures at vulnerable locations to safeguard the lives and property of people, besides protecting agricultural land from floods and river erosion.
