Demanding desilting, farmers block Ropar-Chandigarh highway

Pressing for their demand to carry out desilting of the Sutlej river, farmers of Duadpur area of Chamkaur Sahib sub-division today blocked the Ropar-Chandigarh highway. The traffic blockade was still in place till the filing of this report.

The district administration had to divert the traffic on through Morinda to avoid traffic jams. Despite that, thousands of commuters on had to face problems. Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who was travelling on the road was also struck in traffic, but police officials helped his cavalcade pass through.

They said Sutlej had changed course in their area and was posing serious risks. The farmers alleged that due to encroachment by certain people on Nawashahar side, the width of Sutlej river bed had narrowed in their area. The sources here said that Ropar administration tried to remove encroachments on Nawashahar side but it was resisted by farmers who owned land in the area.

Deputy commissioner (DC) Varjeet Singh Walia held a meeting with the representative of the farmers and assured that their demands would be met. When contacted, the DC said the matter raised by the farmers has been taken up with the drainage department, which has been directed to find a solution to the problems of farmers.

Heavy inflow in Sutlej river had severely affected the bandhs of the river at several points in Ropar district a few days ago.

Due to timely efforts of 16 Sikh Regiment, the district administration and local volunteers, the Daudpur and Phassa bandhs falling under Chamkaur Sahib were successfully saved.

Army assist in flood relief measures

An Army flood relief column from Chandigarh reached Chamkaur Sahib late on the night of September 1. The column, led by Maj Shaurya Rai of the 16 Sikh Regiment, immediately began assessing the eroded banks of the Sutlej River at Daudpur Bund before launching a full-scale disaster relief plan.

Maj Shaurya Raai and his team filled the eroded banks, strengthened the embankments, and created a second tier of defence against the rising waters by installing wire-mesh cages filled with sandbags and rocks. This bund remains the only landmass between the Sutlej River and the population of nearby villages.

However, now the farmers are demanding that desilting of Sutlej should be done in the area so the rising water level does not pose any threat to their area in future.