Fazilka villagers seek permanent solution

Flood watch: The Tribune revisits ground zero a year after

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, July 18

If excess water is released from dams, as it happened last year, the residents of Fazilka would be in a big trouble yet again.

Harbans Singh of Gulaba Bhaini village said, “Only God can save us from floods as the successive governments have failed to come out with a permanent solution for flood-prone border villages, which fall across the Kanwawala Pattan in Fazilka.”

He said the roads destroyed during the last year’s flooding had not been repaired and no relief had been paid for the damaged houses.

Harmesh Warwal, sarpanch, Jhangar Bhaini village, said the government should construct a bundh on the other side of the Sutlej creek.

Out of total 22 flood-prone villages, a cluster of 12 villages situated across Kawanwala Pattan, gets disconnected from the mainland every time.

According to information, 49 km of roads were damaged last year and Rs 6.70 crore was required to repair the roads, but no amount has been released so far. Officials said 1,249 houses were damaged and a compensation of Rs 4.93 crore had been released, but it was not credited into the account of beneficiaries.

A total of nine persons lost their lives, besides standing crop on 12,584 acres was damaged. Officials said a compensation of Rs 8.17 crore was credited in the account of 9,596 affected farmers.

Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Senu Duggal said the administration had come up with flood control and rehabilitation measures this year.

Can’t build bundh

A permanent solution is not possible. Excessive water released from upstream cannot be stored after raising a bundh in flood-prone villages as it will turn into a reservoir. — Vishal Kumar, executive engineer, drainage