Upper Bari Doab Canal cries for attention

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Amritsar, April 8

Residents have demanded a recreational spot at the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) passing through the city’s outskirts.

A retired professor, Mohan Singh, said, “The canal which passes along the city is in a dilapidated condition. Because of the apathy of officials, no action has been taken to clear the canal which is filled with garbage.”

He said a couple of months ago the Municipal Corporation had decided to initiate a drive to clean the section of canal along the city and to remove the tonnes of garbage piled up on the newly constructed Link Road. However, no initiative had been taken so far, he added.

It may be recalled that the part of the heritage channel was relined with concrete in 2003. Till recently, the crystal clear water from the Ravi flowing through the UBDC, presented a beautiful waterscape.

He alleged that, “Now, the concrete bottom of the canal is visible through the naked eye. Due to utter neglect of the Irrigation Department in the past few years thick shrubs and ferns have grown on both of its banks, thus eclipsing the scenic view. Irresponsible residents in the neighbouring colonies have turned it into a garbage dumping spot.”

He said, “Right now, it is the harvesting season. The canal will be dry till the next paddy season. The dry bottom of the canal, particularly the 2-km stretch, which lies on the city’s outskirts, bears testimony to the lackadaisical attitude of officials concerned. One can see a three feet deep layer of potsherds, plastic waste and other discarded objects.”

Another city resident, Rahul Kumar, said after the annexation of Punjab, the British built the UBDC network to irrigate northern part of the country. Sources in the Irrigation Department said the Union Government was expected to release a grant of Rs 1,375 crore for the relining of the UBDC network in the state.