Chandigarh: The Punjab govt has expressed concern over its inability to undertake the de-silting of the Beas due to restrictions imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), warning the state could face serious risks if silt accumulated after recent floods was not removed in time.The issue was raised in the Punjab assembly by AAP MLA Dalbir Singh, who asked whether it was a fact that the Beas was not de-silted in Baba Bakala constituency, leading to a rise in the riverbed level and increasing the risk of flooding. He also sought to know whether the govt had any proposal to carry out de-silting of the river and the timeline for the same. In reply, water resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the department initially notified 85 de-silting sites through a notification dated Oct 16, 2025, following floods that year. These included 29 sites on the Beas. The department also initiated the process of preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) and obtaining approvals from the state technical advisory committee (STAC), constituted in accordance with guidelines of the Govt of India. However, the minister said that during the tenure of the previous Congress govt, the stretch of the Beas from Talwara to Harike was declared a Ramsar site under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, without the consent of the department. Because of this status, he said, even the removal of a spoonful of silt deposited in the river became difficult. Goyal acknowledged that large quantities of silt accumulated in the river following floods and said that removing it required a lengthy process. Under the rules, conservation plans and mitigation plans must first be prepared through consultants, after which a proposal for de-silting could be submitted on the portal of the Union ministry of environment and forest. The minister said floods caused extensive devastation in the state and led to heavy deposition of silt in rivers. He criticised restrictions imposed by NGT, stating they were introduced without consulting or taking feedback from the Punjab govt, which hampered the process of clearing the accumulated silt. Goyal said if the Beas is not de-silted and floods occur again, Punjab could face significant damage. He informed the House that the process had already been initiated and a consultant engaged. Once the final reports are submitted, the proposal will be sent to the Centre, and action to de-silt identified sites on the Beas will be taken after receiving necessary approvals, he said. Joining the discussion, speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan described the matter as serious and asked the minister to resolve the issue at the earliest, suggesting that efforts should be made to clear accumulated silt without getting caught in procedural complications. Road damaged by mining trucksResponding to a question by Dr Nachhatar Pal regarding the dilapidated condition of the Mattewara–Rahon road, public works (B&R) minister Harbhajan Singh said the road is due for periodic repair from Jan 2026. The minister told the House that the road witnesses heavy traffic of vehicles involved in mining activities, which contributed to its deterioration. He said since extensive use by mining vehicles damages the road, a crust design study is being conducted by the research laboratory in Patiala to ensure greater durability. Harbhajan Singh added periodic repair of the road will be undertaken during 2026–27. Dr Pal questioned whether mining activities in the area were legal or illegal and said if they were illegal, they should be stopped. The minister responded that mining in the area is legal.More govt schools to get bus transportEncouraged by the result of transport service introduced in govt schools, Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema called for expanding the facility across the state to benefit more students. The issue came up during a discussion on a question by MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria regarding the upgrade of schools. Education minister Harjot Singh Bains said he receives requests for the upgrade of schools from across the state daily. However, he said, merely upgrading schools may not be the solution and emphasised that improving transport could be more effective. Drawing a comparison with private schools, Bains said many parents are willing to send their children even 30km away from home because private institutions provide transport facilities. He said children benefit from interacting with a larger group of students, which supports their overall development. The minister informed the House that the govt introduced a transport policy for govt schools, under which transport services are currently available in 200 schools. He cited examples where students from urban areas started attending schools in rural areas due to the availability of transport. Cheema said Bains initially approached him with the proposal, but was reluctant as he felt it could put an additional burden on the exchequer. However, he said, the results were encouraging. Cheema said the govt was pleased with the outcome and asked the education minister to bring a proposal for expanding the transport service.
