Rajya Sabha member and noted environmentalist Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal has made an urgent appeal to the Union government, seeking immediate intervention to fortify Punjab against devastating floods. In a letter addressed to Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, Seechewal pressed for the release of a special financial package dedicated to comprehensive flood management and the critical de-silting of the Harike Pattan headworks.
An Urgent Call to Avert Future Calamities
Seechewal issued a stark warning, stating that any further delay in announcing and implementing this package could leave Punjab vulnerable to even more severe natural disasters in the coming years. He underscored the urgency by referencing the catastrophic floods of August 2025, which wreaked havoc and caused massive destruction across the state.
The environmentalist cited successful precedents to bolster his case. He pointed out that large-scale de-silting operations carried out in 2020 beneath the Giddarpindi railway bridge on the Sutlej river, along with extensive silt removal from the Budha Darya during June and July of a previous year, had proven effective in protecting surrounding areas from devastating floods. These examples, he argued, demonstrate the efficacy of proactive silt management.
The Critical State of Harike Pattan
Seechewal directed specific attention to the deteriorating condition of the Harike Pattan Headworks, a vital barrage built in 1952–53 at the confluence of the Sutlej and Beas rivers. He revealed a shocking fact: de-silting has never been undertaken even once since its construction over seven decades ago.
"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," Seechewal explained. He detailed how during the monsoon, rivers like the Chitti Bein, Kali Bein, Sutlej, and Beas carry enormous loads of silt and sand, which settle at Harike Pattan. While the water continues its flow towards Rajasthan, the accumulated silt remains, creating a serious and growing threat to Punjab's safety.
National Problem, Local Crisis
Supporting his argument with data, Seechewal referenced a concerning national pattern. In response to his queries, the central government acknowledged that silt accumulation in 439 reservoirs across India has reduced their overall water storage capacity by 19.24 percent. Alarmingly, among these, 23 reservoirs have already accumulated more than 50 percent silt.
He connected this national issue directly to Punjab's dual water crisis. The state is already grappling with severe groundwater depletion. The declining storage capacity of dams and reservoirs due to siltation further weakens the state's irrigation infrastructure and jeopardizes drinking water security, creating a perfect storm for water scarcity and flood vulnerability.
Seechewal's appeal frames the de-silting of Harike Pattan and a robust flood management package not just as disaster prevention measures, but as essential steps for securing Punjab's water future and agricultural sustainability.
