NGT pulls up Punjab over delay in floodplain demarcation along Satluj, seeks timeline

Chandigarh: Pulling up the Punjab govt for failing to meet its own deadline, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has noted the absence of a clear timeline for floodplain demarcation along the Satluj, despite an earlier assurance that the exercise would be completed within 10 months.The matter relates to demarcation of floodplain zones along a 47-km stretch of the Satluj river in Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts. A bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Dr A Senthil Vel and Dr Afroz Ahmad examined a status report filed by the Punjab govt's department of water resources.The tribunal noted that the principal secretary, water resources, had earlier informed on Oct 3, 2025, that the work would be completed within 10 months. However, the latest status report does not specify any timeline for completion.The floodplain zoning exercise is being carried out based on the 1-in-100-year highest flood level (HFL). A drone-based survey is underway to map the contours and extent of the floodplain, being conducted by the Survey of India.According to the status report, large portions of the survey have been completed in the Nangal region, while work in the Harike area remains incomplete. The process has faced delays due to security restrictions in border areas and pending permissions from central authorities.The Punjab govt informed the tribunal that the chief engineer, drainage-cum-mines and geology, water resources department, wrote to the director, northern zone, Survey of India, Chandigarh, on Feb 3, 2026, seeking provision of digital elevation model (DEM) and digital ortho-imagery (ORI) based on the 1-in-100-year HFL, in continuation of a memorandum of understanding dated Aug 28, 2025.In response, the Survey of India said it would provide DEM and digital ortho-imagery for mapping and developing a flood-risk model, but clarified that scientific demarcation of floodplain zones based on HFL does not fall within its mandate.As per the status update submitted on April 1, 2026, drone surveys were to cover 540.1 sq km in Harike and 1,321.2 sq km in Nangal. So far, about 13 sq km in Harike and 1,221 sq km in Nangal have been covered. The ortho-rectified imagery and digital surface model for the surveyed Harike area have also been generated.The state informed the tribunal that drone operations could not be completed as flying permissions expired on Feb 10, 2026, and fresh approvals are awaited from the ministry of civil aviation, ministry of home affairs and the Border Security Force. It also said tendering for hiring digitisation agencies has been completed for further processing, including digital terrain model generation.Citing constraints related to border security and the need for specialised modelling using HEC-RAS, the state sought additional time to complete the floodplain zoning exercise.Taking note of the delay, the NGT directed the principal secretary, water resources department, Punjab, to file a fresh affidavit detailing progress and a clear timeline at least one week before the next hearing. The matter has been listed for further hearing on July 30, 2026.