A confluence of scientists, researchers and civil society members brainstormed at a one-day national conference titled “The Floods in Punjab: Impacts, Challenges, and Pathways to Resilience” to address the escalating flood crisis in Punjab on 27th July 2024 at NITTTR, Sector 26, Chandigarh. This comprehensive program was organized by the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership (IIDL), an initiative of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP), and Kheti Virasat Mission (KVM), in collaboration with the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh #NITTTR.
Punjab, once the land of rivers, now faces severe flooding challenges, particularly during monsoons, impacting agriculture, economic stability, and community well-being. The conference brought together a diverse group of 28 speakers and 97 participants from 24 renowned organizations, including Members of Parliament, local MLAs, policymakers, engineers from Punjab’s water management departments, experts from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), researchers, geologists, agriculturists, social activists, disaster management experts, and scientists from the weather department.
After extensive deliberations, 28 recommendations emerged. Here are some of the key highlights:
- Implement an Early Warning System and flood forecasting in Punjab River basins.
- Leveraging central initiatives like Mission Amrut Sarovar to store the overflow from the Ghaggar River during floods.
- Rejuvenate village ponds and actively engage communities in their ecological management.
- Combat illegal sand mining and stone crushing in catchment areas.
- Construct ring dams for safety around large dams.
- Upgrade rain gauge instruments with IoT-based sensors for enhanced monitoring.
- Encourage crop diversification and transition from tube well irrigation to river and canal water usage.
- Ensure transparency and accountability in dam operations.
- Implement flood loss compensation based on actual damages incurred.
- Utilize MGNREGA labor for building water bodies in flood-prone villages.
- Train students and civil defense volunteers for effective flood relief.
- Engage flood activists and affected communities in flood control policy-making.
- Improve inter-state coordination through joint inspections of the Ghaggar River among Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
The above recommendations have been formally submitted to key officials including the Chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the Secretary of the Irrigation Department, the Minister of Water Resources, the Minister of Disaster Management, and the Secretary of Agriculture for Punjab.
The Secretary of the Irrigation Department has acknowledged the gravity of the situation and has committed to integrating these recommendations into future flood management strategies. Furthermore, he discussed several collaborative projects with the Punjab government aimed at addressing these challenges. Notably, the Punjab government has approved the construction of village ponds to improve water retention, directly aligning with one of the key recommendations from the recent conference. This initiative, thus, presents an opportunity for close collaboration with the government on practical, long-term solutions to Punjab’s flood issues, ensuring that our recommendations are not only acknowledged but also effectively implemented.
Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Vice Chairman of RMP and former Rajya Sabha member, emphasized RMP’s 40-year commitment to addressing modern challenges with effective solutions. Guided by the core values of training, enlightenment, and reformation established by Rambhau Ji, RMP focuses on preparing individuals for societal roles. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe noted that after thorough deliberation, the increasing problem of floods in Punjab was identified as a critical issue. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe assured that RMP, after discussions with all stakeholders, is committed to working on the flood issue and utilize the organization’s nationwide camps that train volunteers from political and civic groups to tackle the contemporary issues effectively.
Dr. Sahasrabuddhe also acknowledged other urgent issues in Punjab, including environmental degradation, the agricultural crisis, social challenges, youth migration and border security. RMP is actively working on these issues in parallel and, in line with this mission, will organize a National Seminar on the Changing Scenario of Punjab Due to Migration on October 15, 2024. Dr. Sahasrabuddhe emphasized that youth migration threatens the region’s culture and identity, warning that if this trend continues, Punjab could become a land without Punjabis, endangering its rich cultural heritage. The upcoming seminar will provide a platform to discuss these critical issues and seek actionable solutions to secure Punjab’s future.
The press conference was attended by several notable figures, including Shri. Umendra Dutt, Er. Terjindra S Dhillon, Dr. Seema Singh, Shri. Gangveer Rathore, Shri. Karan Singh Dhillon, Dr. Tejpal Singh, Dr. Bharti, Dr. Manish Jangid, Shri. Somdutta Mishra and Shri. Subodh Sharma.