Punjab floods: Officials ‘misled’ govt, claims MLA Pathanmajra

Sanaur legislator Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra on Sunday alleged that senior Irrigation Department officers “misled” the state government on the release of water into rivers and permissions to de-silt riverbeds.

The AAP MLA alleged that despite repeated requests, “no action was taken” and officers “created hurdles” in ensuring pre-monsoon work.

Pathanmajra said Punjab Principal Secretary (Water Resources) Krishan Kumar “ignored repeated pleas of allowing the use of soil from the Tangri and the Ghaggar to strengthen banks”.

“The result is that almost 11 villages in my constituency are partly hit by flooding,” he said, adding that the situation might turn worse if the rain-fed Tangri, a tributary of the Ghaggar, overflowed.

“It is a humble request to my own government to shift such officers,” he said.

The legislator said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should “get rid of such officers, who are misleading the government”.

“In villages, AAP MLAs are being hounded and opposed as people blame us for not doing enough to save Punjab villages from floods. It is difficult to explain to them that despite our repeated pleas, no one listens to us,” he said.

Kumar could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.

“To blame Krishan Kumar for the permissions of lifting soil from riverbanks is not justified as he did not hold the mining charge since 2023,” said a senior official.

Meanwhile, Patiala Deputy Commissioner Preeti Yadav reviewed water flow in the Ghaggar at Devigarh and the Tangri in Khatauli near Dudhan Sadhan.

“We have been continuously monitoring the situation for the past three days. The water level has started receding, which is visible in Rajpura and Ghanaur. However, all departments remain on alert and fully prepared to handle any emergency,” she said.