Recent floods in Punjab caused extensive damage to forest plantations across multiple districts. The Beas, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers breached dhussi bundhs, damaging trees and wildlife habitats along embankments.
Massive Loss of Trees and Wildlife
Preliminary estimates suggest floods destroyed or uprooted about five lakh trees, affecting nearly 780 hectares of forestland. The Forest Department is monitoring endangered gharials in the Harike Wetland. Officials reported damages at Kathgarh, Bamial-Killpur, Manjwal, Makhu, Hussainiwala, Chak Sarkar, and Hadiwal-Sasrali bundhs.
Border Forests Bear the Brunt
Four block forest ranges in Amritsar and Tarn Taran suffered severe impacts, affecting shrubs, mammals, birds, reptiles, and over one lakh nursery saplings. These forests lie along the Pakistan border, bounded by Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas rivers, including Rakh Sarai Amanat Khan Reserve and Kamalpur block forest.
Nursery Losses and Financial Setback
The department lost lakhs of saplings in floodwater, jeopardizing state plans to expand forest cover. Principal Chief Conservator Dharminder Sharma estimated losses at Rs 3.6 crore. Officials will assess the full damage to plantations and wildlife once waters recede.
