Breach in Ghaggar floods 3,000 acres of paddy fields

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, July 18

Flood threat looms large over many villages and Moonak town in the district as the 25-ft-wide breach in ghaggar near Phullad village widened to nearly 60 ft this morning.

Water has spread to around 3,000 acres of paddy fields of surrounding villages and also reached the outskirts of Moonak. Though Sangrur DC Ghanshyam Thori called the Army and the NDRF, after getting information about breach, it could not be plugged and further widened as Ghaggar has been flowing at its full capacity of 749.07 ft, where 750 ft is the danger level.

Area residents accused drainage department officers of not carrying out the much-needed repairs of Ghaggar. Some officers said they had not received funds for the purpose.

Former local MLA Parminder Singh Dhindsa, who visited the spot, alleged, “The Sangrur administration and the state government have failed to take timely action to prevent the widening of the breach. Farmers are working on their own to plug the breach. We will take up the issue with the government and seek compensation for the affected farmers.”

Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema alleged that the Ghaggar issue had been used for political gains by area leaders, but nobody took steps to redress the real issues.