The Paradox of Punjab's Floods: Why Normal Rains Wreaked Havoc

In July 2023, Punjab found itself submerged under devastating floodwaters, an event that left a trail of destruction across numerous districts. What makes this catastrophe particularly perplexing, and indeed tragic, is the revelation that the state received only normal, or slightly above normal, rainfall during this period.

The narrative isn't one of unprecedented downpours, but rather a chilling exposé of systemic failures and human-made vulnerabilities that turned ordinary rain into an extraordinary disaster.

Official data indicates that Punjab recorded approximately 294 mm of rainfall in July 2023, a figure just 5% above its average of 279 mm.

This stands in stark contrast to the calamitous floods of 1988, when the state was deluged by a staggering 492 mm in just four days. Yet, the impact of the 2023 floods felt eerily similar, prompting experts to point fingers not at the heavens, but at the ground beneath our feet – and the decisions made upon it.

The root causes of this paradox are deeply entrenched in a landscape marred by neglect and ill-conceived development.

Foremost among them is the woeful state of Punjab's drainage system. A network designed to channel water away has instead become a series of choked arteries, burdened by years of accumulated silt, plastic waste, and a shocking lack of maintenance. Many natural water bodies and drains, once vital conduits, have either disappeared under construction or have been severely constricted, leaving water with nowhere to go.

Encroachments stand as another colossal barrier to effective flood management.

Riverbeds, floodplains, and natural waterways – areas historically reserved for water flow – have been brazenly colonized by illegal constructions. These human-made obstacles directly impede the natural course of water, forcing it to spill over into populated areas, homes, and agricultural lands.

The very pathways nature designed to manage excess water have been blocked, turning them into sources of inundation.

Furthermore, the carrying capacity of Punjab's rivers and canals has drastically diminished. Decades of inadequate desilting mean that riverbeds have risen, reducing the volume of water they can hold before overflowing.

Coupled with poor urban planning, which sees an increase in impervious surfaces like concrete roads and buildings, the natural absorption of rainwater into the ground has been severely curtailed. This accelerated runoff overwhelms existing infrastructure, which was never designed to handle such rapid volumes.

Waste management, or the lack thereof, exacerbates the problem.

Plastic bottles, bags, and other non-biodegradable waste find their way into drains and rivers, forming impenetrable blockages that transform natural water channels into stagnant pools of misery. Even some modern infrastructure, such as the design of roads and canals, has been criticized for inadvertently obstructing natural water flow, creating unintended barriers that worsen flooding in low-lying areas.

The recurring nature of these floods, despite normal rainfall, serves as a harsh reminder that climate change is not the sole villain.

While global warming undeniably plays a role in intensifying weather events, Punjab's plight reveals a more immediate and controllable set of factors: a chronic failure in planning, infrastructure maintenance, and enforcement. The path forward is clear, though arduous: a comprehensive overhaul of drainage systems, the unwavering removal of encroachments, rigorous desilting efforts, and the adoption of sustainable urban planning practices that respect nature's design.

Only then can Punjab hope to break free from this cycle of preventable devastation, ensuring that its future is not defined by water, but by resilience and responsible governance.