CHANDIGARH: There is a distinct possibility of the victims of September, 1988, floods in Punjab getting relief for the losses suffered by them.
This is indicated by the readiness of the Bhakra Beas Management Board to provide relief to them if the Punjab Government provides it with a detailed list of their names and the extent of damage each of them had suffered.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the partner states held here in mid-July. The BBMB Chairman, Maj Gen P.K. Gupta, presided. In fact, in view of the importance of the issue raised by Punjab the matter was taken up first on priority.
It is reliably learnt that the BBMB is not averse to Punjab’s suggestion that the beneficiary states Haryana and Rajasthan should “insure” Punjab against any loss caused by floods to its people and property. On its own the BBMB has been requested that it should ensure that Punjab did not have to “relive” the 1988 tragedy “in any case.”
Heavy discharge from the Bhakra reservoir is believed to have led to unprecedented floods in Punjab in September, 1988. This was presumably occasioned by unprecedented heavy rains.
Consequently, the damage caused to flood protection works was estimated at Rs 132 corer and to the canal network, including inter State carrier channels, at Rs 46 crore. In lieu of this, the Centre had paid to Punjab Rs 15 crore and Rs 22 crore, respectively.
In the past 20 years or so neither the Centre nor Punjab paid a single paisa to farmers for crop loss and damage. Punjab lost nearly 700 lives and damage to private and public assets was estimated at Rs 1725 crore.
Now Punjab wants both Haryana and Rajasthan to share the “premium of insurance cover on the amount of Rs 1725 crore.” The state government’s view is that the other two states derive substantial benefits from projects operated by the BBMB. The operations of the board are carried out with a view to maximizing the benefits to the partner and other concerned states. While the benefits of the projects are shared by all partners, the fact is that the state (Punjab) alone has to share the brunt of any damage or devastation caused by the functioning of the said projects under the BBMB’s control.
It is reported that the levels of the Bhakra and Pong reservoirs were higher by about 40 feet in June as compared to the levels in 1988. The predictions are that the monsoon will be heavier again.
The Punjab Government is reported to have even written a letter on the subject to the BBMB and the mid July discussion at the meeting was in the context of that letter.
It was decided at that meeting that a “consultancy study” should be got conducted by the BBMB with member and partner states, including Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh sharing the cost towards that study. The aim of the study is to suggest ways and means to increase the carrying capacity of the Sutlej, which is a victim of silt up. The idea is to go in for destination at the earliest. The study will also attempt to suggest how best insurance cover can be provided in case of floods and consequent damage besides raising a permanent fund to compensate for the losses suffered as a result of floods. The mode of getting the study done at the earliest has been left to the BBMB, Most of the arguments advanced by Punjab are based on the existing Punjab river dam system.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 24, 1990
