Ajnala (Amritsar) — A delegation from Ajnala, headed by Aam Aadmi Party MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, called on Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday to seek urgent intervention from the Centre on recurring floods, construction of the proposed Ujh Dam and a demand for ₹1,600 crore to rehabilitate and develop the flood-prone constituency.
Delegation outlines annual damage to crops, roads and schools
The group included sarpanches, chairpersons and Zila Parishad members from Ajnala. They urged the Governor to take up long-pending issues with the Central Government, emphasising the frequent inundation caused by the Ravi and Ujh rivers and the consequent damage to agricultural land, rural infrastructure and educational institutions.
"Every year, the people of Ajnala suffer massive destruction due to the waters of the Ravi and Ujh rivers," the delegation said, noting that floodwaters wash away crops, damage roads, affect schools and erode fertile agricultural land.
The delegation highlighted the path of the Ujh River, which originates in Jammu and Kashmir and flows through Pathankot, Sujanpur, Dinanagar, Gurdaspur and Dera Baba Nanak before reaching Ajnala and ultimately crossing into Pakistan. They argued that by the time the Ujh reaches Ajnala it causes extensive destruction to lives and livelihoods.
What the delegation sought
- Immediate Centre-level intervention to address recurring flooding and cross-border water management concerns.
- Construction of the proposed Ujh Dam as a structural solution to regulate flows and reduce flood risk.
- Financial assistance of ₹1,600 crore for rehabilitation, infrastructure repair and development of Ajnala’s bordering areas.
The appeal framed the matter as both a development and national-security concern, given Ajnala’s location near the international boundary and the frequency with which floods disrupt agriculture—the primary occupation of the constituency.
Local agriculture and infrastructure at stake
Farmers and local representatives told the delegation that annual floods not only destroy standing crops but also erode topsoil and render fields less productive in subsequent seasons. Damage to rural roads impedes movement of produce to markets, and repeated disruption to schools affects student attendance and continuity of learning.
While the delegation pushed for the Ujh Dam to be included in central plans, they also sought targeted funds to repair and elevate roads, shore up school buildings, and restore lost agricultural land — measures they said were essential to reduce recurring losses.
Background and institutional context
The Ujh is a tributary of the Ravi and is part of transboundary river systems that have long challenged planners in Punjab and neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir. Proposals for dams and river regulation projects have been debated for years at state and central levels; the delegation asked that these discussions be expedited and that the Governor press the Centre for action.
| River | Noted route (as highlighted by the delegation) | Main concern |
|---|---|---|
| Ujh | Originates in Jammu & Kashmir; Pathankot → Sujanpur → Dinanagar → Gurdaspur → Dera Baba Nanak → Ajnala → Pakistan | Flooding, erosion of agricultural land |
| Ravi | Flows in the region and contributes to inundation in low-lying areas | Recurring floods affecting infrastructure and crops |
Delegates argued that a combination of structural measures (like the Ujh Dam) and immediate financial aid were necessary to break the cycle of annual damage. They asked the Governor to raise these demands with the Central Government and expedite approvals and funding.
Possible implications
If the Centre considers the request, the proposal would involve environmental clearances, technical feasibility studies, inter-state coordination and significant financing. Local leaders said ₹1,600 crore was sought to meet immediate rehabilitation needs and to start preparatory works, though the delegation did not provide a detailed break-up of the sum during the meeting.
The issue intersects with agricultural livelihoods, disaster management and border-area development — matters that carry political salience ahead of next year’s Assembly polls. For farmers in Ajnala, effective flood mitigation could mean fewer crop losses and more stable incomes; for officials, the challenge will be aligning technical solutions with funding and environmental safeguards.
The meeting with the Governor follows long-standing complaints from residents and elected representatives in Ajnala about the scale and frequency of flood damage. The delegation has requested that the Governor take up the matter at the highest level to secure both the proposed dam project and the requested funds.
(Reported from Ajnala)
