Patiala residents wary, want Badi Nadi cleaned

Flood watch: The Tribune revisits ground zero a year after

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 18

While overcast conditions have brought relief to city residents from the oppressive heat, the arrival of the monsoon has made residents of flood-hit Gopal Colony jittery.

Located near the banks of the Badi Nadi, the colony is inhabited by migrant labourers who are especially vulnerable as many of them do not even have official land records.

Last year, 10 deaths were reported in the district due to the floods. The district administration had claimed of releasing over Rs 83 crore as compensation for the deaths, crop loss and damage to the houses. However, many of the flood-affected residents did not get compensation. They are still suffering as they had to borrow money to tide over difficult times.

Sonwati, one of the residents, took a loan of Rs 1 lakh to repair the damage caused by floods to her house in the colony last year. Despite submitting nearly 10 forms for compensation as required by the government, she is yet to receive any financial aid. “After the bank refused to give a loan, I borrowed Rs 1 lakh from a money lender on a high rate of interest. We want the government to compensate for the loss we suffered last year,” she said.

Pointing to a water-level mark in a wall, 60-year-old Chandprakash said, “Our house was submerged in eight-foot water. Furniture, clothes, electronic appliances — everything was damaged by the slush. The government promised compensation, but a year has passed and not a single penny has been given to us.”

Sagar Chauhan, an auto-rickshaw driver, said the colony was hit by floods thrice (2017, 2021 and 2023) in the past decade, but the maximum damage was caused last year. “Around 800 families live here. Most residents, who are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, are labourers and workers. Our request to the government is that if they cannot provide compensation, at least they should clean the Badi Nadi to prevent recurrent flooding,” said Chauhan.

A communique issued by the office of Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray reads, “10 persons died in the district during the floods last year. A total of Rs 40 lakh compensation was paid to the victims’ families. As many as 76 animals had died and an amount of Rs 21.76 lakh was paid to the owners. Over 1,800 houses were damaged and Rs 3.73 crore was paid to the owners. A total of Rs 78.93 crore was given to 36,497 farmers who suffered crop loss.”

Flood preparedness

• Flood protection work started on embankments of the river
• All drains cleaned; desilting works proposed for free flow of river
• All sites where breaches occurred last year, strengthened
• Field staff put on duty round the clock, control room set up