Flood alert: Ravi and Beas reach dangerous levels in Punjab

In a concerning development, the water levels in the Ravi and Beas rivers have surged to dangerous heights, impacting agricultural lands and border villages in Punjab. Following the release of 90,000 cusecs of water from the Ranjit Sagar Dam, the Ravi river reached a level of three lakh cusecs.

MLA Dalbir Singh Tong, who recently visited areas along the Beas river in his Baba Bakala constituency, reported that approximately 5,000 acres of agricultural land have been inundated. He emphasized the urgency of the situation as local farmers face significant threats to their livelihoods.

Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, MLA from Ajnala, accused Pakistan of constructing high studs along the Ravi, allegedly diverting water flow into India with the intent to cause flooding. He urged dairy farmers to relocate their cattle to safer areas and assured them of government compensation. Dhaliwal's visit to border villages such as Ghonewala, Daria Musa and Kot Razada revealed that the rising water poses a risk not only to agriculture, but also to BSF outposts situated beyond the border fence. He expressed concern that Pakistan's actions are part of a broader strategy to economically destabilise border villagers, who rely on agriculture for their income.

The AAP MLA highlighted the bravery of border villagers, who serve as a second line of defense alongside the BSF, in thwarting Pakistan's activities. However, he criticised successive Central Governments for failing to provide special financial packages to improve the living standards of these communities over the past 75 years.

In response to the flooding situation, the government has directed Deputy Commissioners to assess crop damage and has allocated Rs 276 crore for necessary measures, including the repair of breached embankments. Dhaliwal also pointed out that heavy rains and cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh have exacerbated the flooding by causing uncontrolled water flow into Punjab.

Dhaliwal alleged that the Central Government, Haryana and Rajasthan governments, who always remain eager to ‘loot’ Punjab’s river waters, have now shut their eyes to the devastation. He accused them of blatantly violating the internationally recognised Riparian Law regarding river waters.

As the region grapples with the aftermath of these floods, the focus remains on safeguarding the affected communities and their agricultural futures.