Punjab Government Must Take BBMB Warning Seriously and Act Immediately to Prevent Floods: Sukhjinder Randhawa

•    Breaches reported at around 35 locations in canals, distributaries, and minors across Punjab; thousands of acres of farmland submerged
•    Randhawa says AAP government has failed to learn lessons from the devastating floods of 2023 and 2025
Chandigarh, June 13, 2026: Former Deputy Chief Minister and Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has termed the advisory issued by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) regarding rising water levels in the Bhakra and Pong dams as a serious warning and has urged the Punjab Government to immediately ensure effective flood-prevention measures.
He said the evolving situation ahead of the monsoon season is sending alarming signals for Punjab. The recent rainfall has already exposed significant weaknesses in the state's flood management system. Given the extensive damage to canals and water distribution networks, warnings from agricultural experts, and rising reservoir levels, the state government must undertake comprehensive preparations without delay.
Randhawa said the government should set aside election rallies and other non-essential activities and focus on strengthening flood management infrastructure in Punjab to prevent a repeat of the devastating floods witnessed in 2023 and 2025. He remarked that the government appears not to have learned any lessons from the previous two flood disasters.
The MP urged the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to immediately review flood-control preparedness in all districts, ensure special monitoring of canals and drainage channels, strengthen vulnerable embankments, and publicly release an advance action plan for areas vulnerable to flooding.
Randhawa said that, according to media reports, recent rains have led to breaches at nearly 35 locations in canals, distributaries, and minor irrigation channels across Punjab. The breach in the Jaito Distributary alone has submerged approximately 800 acres of agricultural land. Several other water channels, including Kotbhai, Phul, Mudki, Ladhu Ka, Pandori, Ablu, Kotli, and Bhana, have also been affected. This situation indicates that the irrigation and drainage systems are not fully prepared to face the challenges of the upcoming monsoon.
He further noted that the BBMB has advised Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to release more water before the onset of the monsoon. At present, the water level in the Bhakra Dam stands at 1,578 feet and in the Pong Dam at 1,328 feet, while the ideal levels for this period are considered to be 1,500 feet and 1,300 feet, respectively. BBMB itself has acknowledged that water levels in both reservoirs are above normal and may rise rapidly with the arrival of the monsoon and accelerated snowmelt in the Himalayan region.
Randhawa stated that Punjab suffered devastating floods in both 2023 and 2025, yet the government has failed to draw lessons from those experiences. He added that agricultural scientists are now warning that the floods have contributed to the emergence of new weed species in several districts, posing a serious threat to future agricultural productivity and biodiversity. A survey conducted by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) found significant changes in weed patterns in flood-affected areas, including Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Rupnagar, Amritsar, and Patiala.
He emphasized that this is not merely a flood-management issue but also a matter concerning agriculture, the environment, and the rural economy. If timely repairs to canals, cleaning of drainage systems, identification of vulnerable areas, and disaster preparedness measures are not undertaken, farmers could face severe losses during the coming monsoon season.
Randhawa said the government must move beyond making claims on paper and demonstrate preparedness on the ground, as nature has already issued its warning and there is no room left for negligence.
He concluded by saying that the people of Punjab have not forgotten last year's tragedy. The government should focus entirely on flood prevention and public safety rather than publicity efforts, ensuring that a similar situation does not arise again.