Bhagwant Mann: Punjab’s flood protection drive under the Bhagwant Mann government reached Balachaur this week, as Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, along with local MLA Santosh Kataria, visited Banga Bet village to review ongoing security arrangements along vulnerable riverbanks. The two leaders inspected the ground situation and expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of the work being carried out at the site.
Rs 2.30 Crore Structure Taking Shape
Briefing the media on the specifics of the Banga Bet site, Goyal said protective structures worth Rs 2.30 crore are currently being constructed to shield the village from flood-related damage during the monsoon. He described the work as part of a much larger, coordinated effort spanning the entire state rather than an isolated local intervention.
Rs 450 Crore Statewide Budget
Highlighting the scale of the government’s commitment, Goyal called the allocation of a Rs 450 crore budget for flood protection a highly commendable step by the Mann government, one that is enabling security works to be carried out across every flood-prone stretch of Punjab simultaneously. He noted that this substantial financial backing reflects the seriousness with which the state is approaching monsoon preparedness this year.
Part of a Wider Statewide Push
The Banga Bet review comes amid a broader flurry of flood-protection activity across Punjab. Recent weeks have seen the state’s Water Resources Department report flood protection works worth around Rs 414.75 crore, covering 101 boulder and hybrid protection works, 17 embankment raising works, 22 embankment strengthening works, 188 drain cleaning works and five flood control gate operations. Separately, the government has also been reconstructing a nearly 3,300-foot stretch of the Dhussi embankment in Ludhiana’s Sasrali Colony at a cost of about Rs 11.75 crore, using geotubes to reinforce the river-facing side against erosion.
Officials say the strategy this monsoon has been to identify vulnerable pockets village by village and district by district. With monsoon activity now picking up pace, the coming weeks are expected to show whether this expanded budget and on-ground vigilance translate into fewer flood-related losses this season.
