India, Sept. 26 -- Punjab gets its name from water - the land of five rivers. Ironically, it's water itself that has been devastating the state for decades. The farmers who once fought for their rightful turn at canal water are today the ones most battered by floods. Punjab has seen disputes over water distribution, but the root cause of repeated flooding lies in human negligence, greed, and short-sightedness.

Dams have been built on all three rivers of Punjab. These multipurpose dams are designed to control floods, generate power, and supply water for irrigation, industry, and domestic use in a regulated manner. The big question is: Have they succeeded in controlling floods?

Government records show water flow in Punjab's rivers has bee...