Rana Gurjeet Singh demands judicial probe into Punjab flood disaster

April 22, 2024 10:51 am

Published by: PreetiMahajan

The Fact News Service

Kapurthala, September 5

Senior Congress leader and Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh has strongly criticized the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government for its “complete failure” in handling the recent flood situation across the state.

In a press release issued to the media today, the law maker expressed serious concerns, stating that the widespread deluge cannot be termed a natural disaster but is, instead, the result of grave administrative lapses and human error.

Calling for a judicial inquiry into the flood crisis, Rana Gurjeet Singh demanded that the Punjab and Haryana High Court appoint a sitting judge to thoroughly investigate the causes behind the disaster. “The devastation that Punjab is currently grappling with is not due to nature alone, but due to a complete lack of preparedness and mismanagement by the state government,” said the MLA.

He also held the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) accountable, stating that it shares the onus for the catastrophe. “The BBMB failed in forward planning and reservoir management at the Bhakra and Pong dams over rivers Sutlej and Beas. Their inability to properly regulate the inflow and outflow of water contributed significantly to the disaster,” he added. Flood water has also flown down from Ranjit Sagar Dam build over river Ravi.

Rana Gurjeet Singh stressed that BBMB must be made to compensate for the losses suffered by the people of Punjab and should propose a comprehensive overhaul of how water resources are managed in the region.

To prevent such disasters in the future, Rana Gurjeet Singh proposed the constitution of an expert committee comprising internationally renowned experts, engineers, and domain specialists. This committee would be tasked with assessing the full scope of the disaster, identifying the failures, and recommending corrective measures. He emphasized that the panel should also suggest effective strategies for regulating dam operations under changing climate conditions.

Highlighting the lack of coordination in relief operations, Kapurthala legislator Singh said, “There is no shortage of relief material or volunteers, but the movement of politicians and VIPs in affected areas is disrupting relief efforts. The government must regulate such movements to ensure efficient delivery of aid.”

Rana Gurjeet Singh also called on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to immediately announce a policy for de-silting of farmlands that have been inundated with silt-laden floodwaters. “Farmers are facing irreparable damage. Without immediate soil restoration measures, agriculture will suffer in the long term,” he warned. “They (farmers) should be allowed to sell the sand which has flown into their farmlands, he suggested.

He further suggested that the charge of director irrigation in BBMB for management of dam, reservoirs, and irrigation systems be handed over to engineers from Punjab, who have a better understanding of the topography and irrigation needs. “Local expertise must be prioritized for efficient and sensitive water management,” he said.

The MLA also underlined the urgent need to study climate change patterns that are affecting rainfall and river flow dynamics. Citing the example of the Ranjit Sagar Dam over the Ravi River, he noted that residents of Ferozepur and Fazilka were caught off guard due to sudden and unregulated water releases.

The MLA recommended the development of a water recharge system that could absorb floodwater into the soil, thereby reducing the impact of inundation and contributing to groundwater replenishment. “The people of Punjab deserve answers and accountability and this should never happen again,” said Rana Gurjeet Singh raising severe concerns over loss to the men material, farms and crops.