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Addressing Punjab's Monsoon Challenges: A Call for Action
Guest Column| Punjab’s monsoon crisis: Time to break cycle of devastation
Image: Hindustan Times
Punjab faces a looming monsoon crisis after devastating floods in 2023 and 2025, which claimed 80 lives and caused extensive agricultural damage. Despite advance warnings, infrastructure failures exacerbated the situation. Urgent reforms are needed to enhance flood resilience and water management as unpredictable weather patterns threaten the region's future.
- 01The floods in 2023 and 2025 resulted in the loss of 80 lives and the death of over 300,000 livestock, severely impacting rural livelihoods.
- 02Financial damages from the floods are estimated in thousands of crores, affecting various sectors of the agrarian economy.
- 03Despite a ₹117 crore allocation for infrastructure repair, bureaucratic delays hindered timely execution, exacerbating the flood impact.
- 04Siltation in Punjab's river systems has significantly reduced storage capacity, with the Gobind Sagar Dam losing nearly 2 billion cubic metres of capacity.
- 05The upcoming monsoon is expected to be influenced by El Niño, leading to unpredictable rainfall patterns and heightened flood risks.
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Punjab is grappling with the aftermath of catastrophic floods in 2023 and 2025, which marked the worst flooding the state has faced in four decades. These disasters resulted in 80 fatalities and the loss of over 300,000 livestock, devastating the agrarian economy and leading to financial damages estimated in the thousands of crores. The floods were exacerbated by significant infrastructure failures, including poorly maintained floodgates and inadequate siltation management in the river systems. Despite a ₹117 crore budget for repairing embankments and drainage systems, bureaucratic delays prevented timely action. The Gobind Sagar Dam has lost nearly 2 billion cubic metres of its capacity due to silt accumulation, further complicating flood management efforts. As the state prepares for another monsoon, influenced by El Niño, the need for a comprehensive flood resilience strategy becomes critical. This includes constructing dedicated flood-control dams, improving rainfall forecasting technology, and restoring natural wetlands. The people of Punjab deserve effective governance that prioritizes infrastructure maintenance year-round, rather than reactive measures after disasters.
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The floods have severely affected Punjab's agrarian economy, leading to significant losses for farmers and rural communities. Urgent infrastructure improvements are necessary to prevent future disasters.
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