5 years on, side-lining of canal yet to begin

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 20

Five years after the foundation stone for side-lining the Sirhind canal was laid by the then Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Singh Badal, the work on it is yet to begin as funds have still not been released by the Irrigation Department.

The embankments of the Sirhind canal have turned weak and frail at various points, which have put the lives of people at risk as a possibility of breach taking place anytime in future in the monsoon season cannot be ruled out.

It seems that the district administration has not learnt any lesson from the breach incidents that occurred in the past.

Even, its boundary wall has not been built or has been broken at some points due to which threat of children falling in the canal looms large.

A visit along the canal banks on Wednesday showed the damaged embankments at various points.

The poor condition of the canal banks poses danger to villages, agricultural fields and to various localities of the city, situated along the canal.

At some points, the canal usually flows at the level of its embankment.

Huge funds are required for the repair work of the canal and water channels, but the Irrigation Department does not have any money and even the state government is facing an economic crisis.

The coming monsoon is very critical for the over 5 lakh population living near the Sirhind Canal as there are many danger points, bridges in bad condition and nine small routes along the canal.

The Bathinda branch of the canal caters to the drinking water needs of as many as 179 villages of the district and is also a source of irrigation for 4.2 lakh hectares.

Satish Kumar, a resident, said it was high time that the administration should start its side-lining project as people were living under the fear that anytime a breach could take place and damage houses.

Meanwhile, a senior official of the Irrigation Department said the canal needed immediate repairs. A project for repair work and relining has already been finalised and they were waiting for the funds.