Farmers block Ropar-Chandigarh highway over Sutlej river course change

Farmers in the Daudpur area of Chamkaur Sahib sub-division in Ropar district resorted to a traffic blockade on the Ropar-Chandigarh highway on Friday afternoon. The blockade continued until the filing of this report. The district administration of Ropar had to divert traffic on the Ropar-Chandigarh road through Morinda to avoid congestion. Despite this, thousands of commuters on the national highway faced problems due to the blockade.

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, who was travelling on the road, got stuck in the traffic jam, but police officials helped his cavalcade pass through. The farmers blocked the traffic, alleging that the Sutlej river had changed course in their area and was threatening their fields and habitations. They claimed that encroachment by certain people on the Nawashahar side had narrowed the riverbed, causing the river to change its course.

Sources said the Ropar administration had tried to remove encroachments on the Nawashahar side, but farmers with land there resisted. Ropar Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Singh Walia held a meeting with farmer representatives and assured them that their demands would be met.

Heavy inflows in the Sutlej river had severely affected the river’s bundhs at several points in Ropar district a few days ago. Timely efforts by the 16 Sikh Regiment, the district administration, and local volunteers successfully saved the Daudpur and Phassa bunds under Chamkaur Sahib. An Army flood relief column from Chandigarh reached Chamkaur Sahib on the night of September 1, led by Major Shaurya Rai of the 16 Sikh Regiment.

The team filled the eroded banks, strengthened the embankments, and created a second tier of defence against rising waters by installing wire-mesh cages filled with sandbags and rocks. The farmers are now demanding desilting of the Sutlej river in the area to prevent future flood threats.