The district of Nawanshahr is bestowed with highly fertile alluvial soils but at the same time the major part of this fertile land along the river Sutlej is threatened by seasonal flooding and extensive land erosion on account of the following factors :
Natural surface drainage system is wanting because of the flat topography. The cultureable land is also subjected to the strain of excess rainfall and soil erosion problems. Rivers represent active natural forces in a dynamic fluid state and thus there is a need to protect farm land and settlements in the hinterland.
High flood discharges are brought by the river and its drains which have their catchments upstreams in Himachal Pradesh.
To protect the district from seasonal flooding and extensive land erosion, the Drainage Division of Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab submitted a proposal for Flood Protection Works on river Sutlej in Nawanshahr district. Accordingly, NABARD sanctioned RIDF assistance of Rs. 3.33 crores for 29 flood protection works under RIDF - V and Rs. 2.51 crores for 13 flood protection works under RIDF - VII. The different works included Studs, Spurs and Revetments to protect the earthen embankments called Dhussi Bund in the local parlance. These earthen embankments protect vast low lying plains and fertile lands. The studs, spurs and revetments are essentially anti-erosion wire created Gabion structures. While the studs hold the embankment or the agriculture land from erosion, the spurs help in deflecting the river flow. It is reported that about one lakh acres of land has been saved/reclaimed by channelising the river Sutlej from Ropar district in Punjab to Hurrike in Ferozepur district. This jacketing of the river has also caused a process of natural opposition from the river but the economic gains have outweighed the cost incurred.
The villagers expressed their immense happiness on account of the benefits accrued from the flood protection works. Some of the benefits are as under :
The works have diverted the flow at pivotal places and the villagers have started agricultural operations in the area including the land reclaimed by desiltation.
The villagers are now diversifying farm operations, investing in houses and constructing cattle sheds etc. as they are free from the worries of floods consequent on the flood protection works undertaken with RIDF assistance.
The land spread is at a lower elevation and when the embankment is breached the consequences would be severe as the flood water could reach upto a few kilometers inland. The flood protection works as also the repairs done to it from time to time have been successful in assuring the villagers about the non occurrence of these possibilities. |
