LUDHIANA – The Public Action Committee (PAC) has petitioned the National Green Tribunal (NGT), accusing the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Punjab state government of negligence that led to recurring “man-made” floods. The PAC claims that unscientific dam operations and a failure to curb illegal mining and riverbed encroachments aggravated the situation.
PAC members stated that the BBMB prematurely released water from dams, causing sudden flooding even before reservoirs reached their maximum capacity. They argue that this was a “human error,” not a natural disaster. The group cited a 2014 report by the Central Water Commission (CWC) that advised BBMB to review its Full Reservoir Levels (FRL), but the board has continued to adhere to outdated parameters set in 1990.
The PAC’s petition seeks an independent audit of BBMB’s “rule curve” the guidelines for managing dam water levels by a panel of experts and a retired High Court judge.
Accusations Against the Punjab Government
The PAC also criticized the state government for its failure to:
• Strengthen river bunds after previous floods.
• Curb illegal mining and encroachments on riverbeds.
The group claims these actions have worsened the damage to the environment and exacerbated the flooding.
The Flood of 2025
PAC members stated that they had issued a legal notice to BBMB in early August 2025, after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of an imminent crisis. Their warnings, they claim, were ignored, leading to the devastating floods that followed.
The petition to the NGT also demands compensation for the affected people, in line with previous Supreme Court directives, and emphasizes that floods in Punjab are a result of “negligence, lack of accountability and mismanagement.”