Fear of flood looms large over colonies on Tangri riverbed

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, July 19

Residents of colonies located on the Tangri riverbed in Ambala Cantonment are living under constant fear of floods.

Tangri is a seasonal river and it swells when there is heavy rainfall in the Shivalik region. Residents are worried that if there is a flood, it would damage their houses.

Sudama, a resident of New Ajeet Nagar, said, “I have been living here for 20 years. The houses and land were offered to us on cheaper rates by property dealers. For the last few years, whenever there is heavy rainfall in the Shivalik region, the water enters our houses and damages furniture and other belongings.”

“As the river water has been entering our houses for many years, the foundation of a large number of houses has weakened and the walls have developed cracks. Last year, a boundary wall of my house had collapsed and rooms had submerged,” he said.

Deepak Kumar, a shopkeeper, said, “We have been paying taxes and other bills just like any other resident. We appeal to the government to find some permanent solution as the majority of people living here are poor and can’t bear repeated loses. The government should do something for us.”

Sunita Devi, who works as a domestic help, said, “Whenever the Tangri swells, we are left with no food and water. Though the administration ask us to shift to safer places, it is not easy to leave our house.”

More than 1,800 families have been residing on the riverbed.

An official said, “The land belongs to people but as per the rules, no one can do any construction on the riverbed. Due to illegal colonies mushrooming on the riverbed, the water body has shrunk.”

Praveen Gupta, executive engineer, Irrigation, said, “The creek has been widened further this year, the obstacles have been removed and the desilting work has also been carried out to ensure the smooth flow of water. We are expecting that the river will be able to carry about 13,000 cusecs of water smoothly.”

Subhash Sihag, SDM, Ambala Cantt, said, “Teams have been formed and we will get information five to six hours before water reaches here. Dharmashalas have been identified where people will be shifted in case of emergency.

Ambala areas still in deep waters 

It has been three days since the incessant rain had stopped after pouring heavily for almost a week, but there has been no respite to residents as several pockets in the city are still in deep waters. Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) residential areas, office complexes, a rest house and a 220-KV power grid sub-station are still submerged. Since Tuesday, booster pumps and JCB machines have been draining out rainwater but the task seems enormous. The situation in villages and low-lying areas on both sides of the Chandigarh-Ambala highway and Baldev Nagar remain grim. The service road leading to Baldev Nagar remained out of bounds for the third day consecutively as rainwater drained out from the flooded areas was discharged on it. The district administration, meanwhile, claimed that overall, situation was under control. TNS

Appeal to govt 

We have been paying taxes just like any other resident. We appeal to the state government to find some a permanent solution as the majority of people living near Tangri river are poor and can’t bear repeated loses. — Deepak Kumar, shopkeeper

‘We’re on the job’ 

Teams have been formed and we will get information about five to six hours before Tangri river overflows. Dharmashalas have been identified where people will be shifted in case of emergency. — Subhash Sihag, SDM, Ambala Cantt