Swan in spate, fields inundated

Tribune News Service

Ropar, July 17

Hundreds of acres were inundated in villages near Anandpur Sahib when the water level in the Swan river rose sharply due to heavy rain in the region this morning.

The district administration has asked residents of affected villages, whose houses are in low-lying areas, to shift to safer places.

At 9 am today, 14,000 cusecs of water was flowing in the seasonal Swan river. Noticing a heavy inflow of water at the Bhakra Dam, the Bhakra Beas Management Board authorities released 13,700 cusecs of water in the Sutlej, which further merged with the Swan at Lodipur village near Anandpur Sahib. Water crossed over the damaged bundh and entered the fields.

The villages affected are Mataur, Burj, Lodhipur, Dasgrain, Hariwal, Ballowal, Mehndli Kalan Lower Baddal, Nikkuwal, and Chandpur Bela.

Three years ago, the Directorate of Irrigation and Power Research, Amritsar, had conducted a survey on the flow of rivers and its impact in the area. On the recommendation of the survey, a proposal to construct a new ‘bundh’ at Lodhipur (costing Rs 13.43 crore) was submitted to the government, but nothing has been done so far.

At the BBMB, officials said the water level at the dam was recorded at 1630.15 feet. The maximum storage capacity at the dam was 1,680 feet which was supposed to be achieved during the filling period from May 21 to September 20. According to protocol, the authorities could store the water to the maximum of 1,650 feet by July 31. The authorities resort to the release of excess water into the Sutlej in a regulated manner so that there is no need of opening flood gates.

Ropar Xen, Drainage, Dalip Singh said they had taken up flood protection measures in the district at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. He said eight drains were cleared before the monsoon at a cost of Rs 80 lakh at Bhangala and Rs 20 lakh was spent on the Burj downstream revetment.

Anandpur Sabib SDM Amarjit Bains claimed the water had started receding by afternoon and there was no report of loss of property or life.