Punjab’s Water Resources Minister, Barinder Kumar Goyal, has strongly criticized the Union Government, attributing the state’s worst floods in 37 years to its actions. Speaking at a press conference, the Minister stated that the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) could have mitigated the damage by releasing water earlier in June. He also expressed disappointment that the Prime Minister has not addressed the crisis or offered any support. Goyal also raised concerns about Haryana’s approach, alleging the state both offered help while simultaneously restricting its water flow, potentially exacerbating the flood situation in Punjab. Furthermore, he revealed that a private company, Level 19 Biz Private Limited, had wrongly certified the structural integrity of the Madhopur headworks gates, which subsequently failed, leading to a department employee’s death. Goyal highlighted that the floods, surpassing the 1988 levels, were caused by heavy rainfall and the convergence of water from various sources. He detailed the extensive rescue and relief operations undertaken by the state government, including the evacuation of thousands and care for livestock, while also urging unity among political leaders.
