Jalandhar /Sultanpur Lodhi:;Rajya Sabha Member and environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has written letter to Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C. R. Patil, urging the Central Government to release a special package for flood management in Punjab and for the de-silting of Harike Pattan. He warned that any further delay in announcing such a package could expose Punjab to even more severe natural disasters in the coming years.
Sant Seechewal pointed out that large-scale de-silting carried out in 2020 beneath the Giddarpindi railway bridge on the Sutlej river, as well as extensive removal of silt from the Budha Nala during the months of June and July, had helped protect the surrounding areas from devastating floods.
In his letter, Sant Seechewal referred to the catastrophic floods that struck Punjab in August 2025, causing massive destruction across the state. The subsequent flooding of the Ravi river broke all previous records. These floods severely affected the Majha, Malwa and Doaba regions, impacting hundreds of villages. Valuable lives were lost, while paddy crops suffered nearly 100 per cent damage. Roads, government buildings and rural infrastructure also sustained extensive losses.
Highlighting the condition of the Harike Pattan Headworks, Sant Seechewal stated that despite the barrage being constructed in 1952–53 at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers, de-silting has never been undertaken even once. Over a vast area of approximately 48 square kilometres, a huge quantity of silt has accumulated, drastically reducing the water-holding capacity during flood situations. During the monsoon season, rivers such as the Chitti Bein, Kali Bein, Sutlej and Beas carry enormous amounts of silt and sand, which settle at Harike Pattan. While the water flows onward towards Rajasthan, the accumulated silt remains behind, posing a serious threat to Punjab.
Sant Seechewal emphasized that Punjab’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, and agriculture itself relies on water. The water stored in dams is under the control of the Central Government. He remarked, “The Punjab that once fed the nation is today struggling for water.” He further stated that due to the floods in August, karsewa work has been underway for the past five months to reclaim farmlands rendered uncultivable. In several areas, fields are covered with four to five feet of silt, clearly indicating the massive volume of silt carried annually with the water entering dams.
**Box Item: Over 50 Per Cent Silt Accumulated in 23 Reservoirs**
Raising concern over the issue of siltation in dams, Sant Seechewal had attempted to bring the matter during Zero Hour on the very first day of the Winter Session of Parliament, but the discussion could not take place due to disruptions. He had also submitted a question, to which the Central Government acknowledged that silt accumulation in 439 reservoirs has reduced overall water storage capacity by 19.24 per cent. Among these, 23 reservoirs have already accumulated more than 50 per cent silt. Sant Seechewal noted that Punjab is already grappling with severe groundwater depletion. The declining storage capacity of dams is further weakening the state’s irrigation system and drinking water security.
