54 GATES OF MADHOPUR HEADWORKS STRENGTHENED AND ELECTRIFIED WITH AROUND RS.50-CR: BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL
SAYS, GATES REDESIGNED WITH ENHANCED SAFETY FEATURES
ALL FLOOD PROTECTION MEASURES PUT IN PLACE
WATER RESOURCES MINISTER REVIEWING DEPARTMENTAL PROJECTS AND ON-GROUND FLOOD PREPAREDNESS AHEAD OF MONSOON
Chandigarh/Pathankot, July 8 (WISHAVWARTA);- The 54 gates of the Madhopur Headworks have been modernised and structurally strengthened, making them fully operable through electric motors. In addition, three gates that were damaged during last year’s floods have been reconstructed in record time using an improved and safer design. The entire project has been completed at a cost of nearly Rs.50 crore.
This was stated by Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal after inspecting the newly upgraded gates at the Madhopur Headworks.
Notably, since yesterday, the Water Resources Minister has been touring flood-affected areas across Pathankot district that suffered damage during last year’s floods. He has been reviewing the flood protection measures and departmental works completed ahead of the monsoon season. On the second consecutive day of his visit, the Cabinet Minister also inspected vulnerable stretches along the Ravi River near the Osho Ashram on the Shahpur Kandi Road.
The Cabinet Minister said, “I am personally visiting all the areas that were severely affected by last year’s floods. Our objective is to ensure that Punjab does not face a similar situation again. Therefore, we are conducting advance inspections to review the preparedness and preventive measures undertaken by the department.”
Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that following the extensive damage caused by the devastating floods of August 27, 2025, the department launched restoration works on a war footing. Protective embankments measuring nearly 500 metres on both sides of the damaged stretch were constructed. By creating temporary ring bundhs, the department successfully restored full-capacity water supply to the canal systems of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir from October 1, 2025.
He further said that all 54 gates have now been modernised and upgraded for electric motor operation, while the three damaged gates have been rebuilt in record time with an improved and more secure design. The entire project has been completed at an expenditure of nearly Rs.50 crore.
The Cabinet Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has already completed all strengthening and restoration works at vulnerable and weak locations identified during last year’s floods. He asserted that the State Government is fully prepared to tackle any flood-like situation and there is no cause for public concern. He added that all necessary safety arrangements have been put in place to ensure that people do not face any inconvenience during the monsoon season.
