Locals fear flood fury as govt fails to desilt Sirhind choe

Surinder Bhardwaj

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 24

As the Irrigation Department has failed to desilt the Sirhind choe, there is imminent threat of floods in the Fatehgarh Sahib-Sirhind and adjoining areas. The Sirhind choe carries rainwater from hills during monsoon.

Desilting and cleaning of canals, tunnels, bridges, ponds, drains, distributaries and siphons in the district is usually completed before June-end.

Sher Singh, president of the Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib Municipal Council, has urged the Deputy Commissioner to start work on desilting of the choe immediately.

“If not done right away, life and property of local residents will be in danger as majority of the population lives on both sides of the choe,” he said.

“In the past, overflowing choe has caused floods in the district. At present, it’s filled with silt and leaves. If monsoon arrives early, it will wreak havoc,” he added.

Devinder Singh, XEN (Drainage), said cleanliness drive could not be started due to shortage of funds. “The government has now released amount and we will start the desilting work soon,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kanwalpreet Brar said she had directed officials concerned to take all necessary steps and precautions to avoid floods and meet any eventuality.