Yamunanagar (Dadupur), July 28The prestigious Dadupur Nalvi canal scheme which had been planned to benefit 225 villages in the three districts of Yamunanagar, Ambala and Kurukshetra by providing them with irrigation waters and also recharging the groundwater has proved destructive to these villages.
The bridge over the Dadupur-Nalvi canal constructed at a cost of Rs 30 lakh a year ago has collapsed while a large portion of the canal as also the road running parrellel to it have been washed away in overflowing waters near Bhagwanpur village.
Over a dozen villages have been submerged due to a breach in the Dadupur-Nalvi canal and 30 cut off with the bridge over the canal having collapsed.
The irrigation department blames the unexpected high flow of water into the canal triggered by breaches in the two seasonal rivulets of Som and Pathrala for the damage to the canal as well as the bridge.
Superintendent Engineer, Irrigation, Balbir Singh, told The Tribune that the canal with a capacity for 590 cusecs received 4,000 cusecs of water that caused the damage.
The first phase of the Dadupur Nalvi canal scheme was inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on August 1. The canal, with a capacity of 590 cusecs, is meant to get water supply from the Dadupur headworks.
The surplus Yamuna water is planned to be diverted from these headworks into the canal during the kharif season for the benefit of farmers.
However, it seems that while planning the prestigious scheme, the irrigation department did not take into account the potential threat to villagers in case of a breach in any of the seasonal rivulets. Doubts are now also being expressed over the material used to build the bridge.
The nearby villagers of Dadupur, Bhagwanpur, Kishanpur Majra, Khadri and Fatehgarh had time and again complained about the possibility of their agricultural land being submerged in waters in the eventuality of a breach.
However the irrigation department disregarded their apprehension which finally resulted in a major disaster.
Meanwhile, nine villages of the Mustafabad block in Jagadhri subdivision were also submerged in the overflowing waters of the Chetang seasonal rivulet here today.
The rise in the water of the rivulet is attributed to heavy rainfall in the catchments areas of Himachal Pardesh. Link roads and crops in these villages are under water.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Panipat’s housing society dumping wastewater in green belt Manish SirhindiTribune News Service (The Tribune- 26 July 2010)
Panipat, July 25In the absence of a proper sewer system, residents of the NFL Employees’ Co-operative House Building Society have been left with no option but to dump their wastewater in the green belt along the NH-1 near the toll plaza.
The green belt has turned into a stinking pond and even the plantation here has been ruined due to the accumulating wastewater. Even as the locals continue to suffer, various government departments, including the HUDA, state Pollution Control Board and the Co-operatives Department, are busy blaming each other for the lapse.
According to the executive engineer of HUDA, during an inspection conducted recently, it was found that the society had been disposing the wastewater in the green belt area due to blockage of the HUDA sewer line.
In reply to an RTI query, the HUDA stated that the blocked sewer could not be rectified in spite of all efforts and thus steps were being taken for re-laying the sewerage system in this area for which the work had been initiated.
The HUDA also said the NFL society had been issued notices to stop disposing wastewater in the green belt. The society had been advised to dispose of the sewage on the other side of Phase II. The HUDA said the issue related to the executive engineer, horticulture division, of HUDA.
The state Pollution Control Board in reply to another RTI query stated that the society had been connected to a sewer of Sector 13-17 of HUDA. Therefore, the responsibility of proper disposal of effluents was that of HUDA. The board said it had issued notices to the executive engineer, HUDA, to install sewer system for all residential and industrial sectors to control water pollution. The board also said it had also collected samples of the water being dumped in the green belt and sent those to its laboratory for testing. The registrar of co-operative societies stated that they had not received any complaint from anybody in this regard and thus no action could be initiated against the society.
RTI activist Rajinder Rathee, who had sought the information using the RTI Act, said he had also asked the Health Department about what sort of health problems could an open disposal of sewage cause and why no action had been initiated to check this problem. The department had so far not given any reply though two and a half months had passed.
He said it was the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned that the locals continue to suffer as no corrective measures were being initiated to resolve the issue.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Punjab flood: Breach in SYL canal, disaster response force called (Hindu 08 July 2010)
With the flood situation in Patiala villages worsening following the breach in the SYL Canal on Tuesday night, Punjab has requisitioned the services of the National Disaster Response Force.
One Ram Singh, 17, of village Sarala Kalan in Ghanaur died and three others are still fighting for their life after they were electrocuted by an electric pole which fell into the water.
Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, who visited the flood-affected areas after making an aerial survey of the flood situation in Patiala, said 800 jawans of the Bathinda-based National Disaster Response Force had been requisitioned for deployment in the flood-affected areas.
“They would be in the flood-prone areas by tomorrow and start relief operations.” He added that two government officials would also be deployed in each flood-affected village to help rescue the marooned residents and carry out relief operations. Badal also gave a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to Ram Singh’s family.
At leat 108 villages around Ghanaur in Patiala district have been hit by the 120-feet wide breach in the SYL Canal. With the water continuing to flow into the villages, the Chief Secretary has been asked to coordinate with his Haryana counterpart to work out a solution.
Badal charged Haryana with diverting water towards Punjab since it had put up bandhs in Hansi-Butana Canal, besides causing a breach in the SYL canal.
Badal also charged the Centre with ignoring Punjab’s demands for protection of bandhs along the Ghaggar for channelising water in the flood-prone area.
Badal said the CM would now take up the issue with the PM to help clear the project for flood-control measures and for channelising the Ghaggar waters in the flood-prone Ghanaur and Kanaouri areas.
One Ram Singh, 17, of village Sarala Kalan in Ghanaur died and three others are still fighting for their life after they were electrocuted by an electric pole which fell into the water.
Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, who visited the flood-affected areas after making an aerial survey of the flood situation in Patiala, said 800 jawans of the Bathinda-based National Disaster Response Force had been requisitioned for deployment in the flood-affected areas.
“They would be in the flood-prone areas by tomorrow and start relief operations.” He added that two government officials would also be deployed in each flood-affected village to help rescue the marooned residents and carry out relief operations. Badal also gave a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to Ram Singh’s family.
At leat 108 villages around Ghanaur in Patiala district have been hit by the 120-feet wide breach in the SYL Canal. With the water continuing to flow into the villages, the Chief Secretary has been asked to coordinate with his Haryana counterpart to work out a solution.
Badal charged Haryana with diverting water towards Punjab since it had put up bandhs in Hansi-Butana Canal, besides causing a breach in the SYL canal.
Badal also charged the Centre with ignoring Punjab’s demands for protection of bandhs along the Ghaggar for channelising water in the flood-prone area.
Badal said the CM would now take up the issue with the PM to help clear the project for flood-control measures and for channelising the Ghaggar waters in the flood-prone Ghanaur and Kanaouri areas.
Farmers suffer huge losses in Haryana flood (Hindu 15 July 2010)
Unable to cultivate their land for many years; standing paddy destroyed
AMBALA: Even as the flood-hit Ambala district in Haryana is limping back to normality with water receding from urban and some parts of rural areas, the villagers of Niharsi, Jansui, Jansua, Bisangarh and Mahmoodpur bewailed the destruction of over 400 acres of cultivated land.
As this correspondent drove along potholed and broken rural road to reach Niharsi, 25 kilometres from Ambala city, the scene was one of utter desolation with standing paddy and other crops completely destroyed. This was caused by gushing waters following a breach in the defunct and almost crumbled Satluj Yamuna Link Canal located nearby. And the collapse of a bridge left a wide gap of almost 500 metres breaking all connectivity.
“Even though there were no human casualties, we have suffered huge losses as we cannot cultivate this land for another four years,'' bewailed Bhajan Singh, Sarpanch of Niharsi and Pritam Singh, Sarpanch of Gaurasiyan, while talking to this correspondent.
They, however, appreciated the relief measures undertaken by the local MLA Venod Sharma and NGOs and said the Government was now getting the bridge rebuilt on war footing. But the issue of concern was compensation to the victims, another Sarpanch said.
Meanwhile, the State Government suspended one Sub- Divisional Officer and two Junior Engineers of the Irrigation Department posted at Ambala for dereliction of duty in the flood relief work. A senior medical officer of the Health Department was also transferred to another district.
State Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati said in Chandigarh that the situation in the flood- affected districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Fatehabad and Sirsa was under control. The breaches in the SYL canal in Punjab area from Pachis Dhara in village Kami Kalan had been plugged by the Punjab Irrigation Department.
In Fatehabad district, heavy discharge in Ghaggar river had resulted in excessive supply in Rangoi Nallah which had breached at two places.
Efforts were on by the Army to plug these breaches. The water had started receding in rural and urban areas.
In Sirsa, four breaches had occurred on downstream Ottu Weir and 13 villages covering an area of 8,000 acres had been affected.
In Kurukshetra, all the 10 breaches in the Bibipur Lake bund had been plugged and the SYL Canal bank had also been strengthened.
AMBALA: Even as the flood-hit Ambala district in Haryana is limping back to normality with water receding from urban and some parts of rural areas, the villagers of Niharsi, Jansui, Jansua, Bisangarh and Mahmoodpur bewailed the destruction of over 400 acres of cultivated land.
As this correspondent drove along potholed and broken rural road to reach Niharsi, 25 kilometres from Ambala city, the scene was one of utter desolation with standing paddy and other crops completely destroyed. This was caused by gushing waters following a breach in the defunct and almost crumbled Satluj Yamuna Link Canal located nearby. And the collapse of a bridge left a wide gap of almost 500 metres breaking all connectivity.
“Even though there were no human casualties, we have suffered huge losses as we cannot cultivate this land for another four years,'' bewailed Bhajan Singh, Sarpanch of Niharsi and Pritam Singh, Sarpanch of Gaurasiyan, while talking to this correspondent.
They, however, appreciated the relief measures undertaken by the local MLA Venod Sharma and NGOs and said the Government was now getting the bridge rebuilt on war footing. But the issue of concern was compensation to the victims, another Sarpanch said.
Meanwhile, the State Government suspended one Sub- Divisional Officer and two Junior Engineers of the Irrigation Department posted at Ambala for dereliction of duty in the flood relief work. A senior medical officer of the Health Department was also transferred to another district.
State Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati said in Chandigarh that the situation in the flood- affected districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Fatehabad and Sirsa was under control. The breaches in the SYL canal in Punjab area from Pachis Dhara in village Kami Kalan had been plugged by the Punjab Irrigation Department.
In Fatehabad district, heavy discharge in Ghaggar river had resulted in excessive supply in Rangoi Nallah which had breached at two places.
Efforts were on by the Army to plug these breaches. The water had started receding in rural and urban areas.
In Sirsa, four breaches had occurred on downstream Ottu Weir and 13 villages covering an area of 8,000 acres had been affected.
In Kurukshetra, all the 10 breaches in the Bibipur Lake bund had been plugged and the SYL Canal bank had also been strengthened.
Friday, July 16, 2010
KU chips in to help the flood-hit (9.7.10)
Tribune News Service
HELP ARRIVES: Army jawans distribute food packets to flood victims near Naggal village in Ambala. Tribune photo by Suman Bhatnagar
Kurukshetra, July 8Kurukshetra University took the lead in helping flood victims by distributing about 7,000 food packets and water to people living in the university’s vicinity.
It also decided to provide accommodation on the campus to its present and former employees affected by floods.
Vice-Chancellor Lt Gen Dr DDS Sandhu visited flood affected areas across Gate III and ensured that food and water reached those in need.
The food was being hygienically prepared in the university itself, said university sources.
A team under the supervision of Registrar Raguvendra Tanwar and Chief Warden Sat Dev is monitoring relief operations.
HELP ARRIVES: Army jawans distribute food packets to flood victims near Naggal village in Ambala. Tribune photo by Suman Bhatnagar
Kurukshetra, July 8Kurukshetra University took the lead in helping flood victims by distributing about 7,000 food packets and water to people living in the university’s vicinity.
It also decided to provide accommodation on the campus to its present and former employees affected by floods.
Vice-Chancellor Lt Gen Dr DDS Sandhu visited flood affected areas across Gate III and ensured that food and water reached those in need.
The food was being hygienically prepared in the university itself, said university sources.
A team under the supervision of Registrar Raguvendra Tanwar and Chief Warden Sat Dev is monitoring relief operations.
Ambala-Delhi rail traffic hit; Hisar highway closed (9.7.10)
Yoginder Gupta
Tribune News Service
Flood Fury
Chief Minister reviews flood situation in Ambala, Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts
Families of deceased to be given a grant of Rs 2 lakh each by state and Rs 1 lakh each by Red Cross
Air Force told to keep choppers ready in Ambala district for dropping food packets in marooned areas
Crops in over 500 acres submerged in Chhachhrauli subdivision of Yamunanagar due to a breach in the Som near Chintpur village
Chandigarh, July 8With fresh breaches in the Ghaggar, the Tangri and the SYL canal, the flood situation in Ambala, Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts in Haryana remains grave.
Rail traffic on the Ambala-Delhi section has been badly affected with the railway bridge on the Markanda, near Shahabad, caving in. While some trains have been diverted via Saharanpur, others have been cancelled. The Ambala-Hisar highway has been breached between Naggal and the Jansui head by the waters of the Tangri river. The traffic on the road has been suspended indefinitely.
The Ambala district administration has requested the Air Force to keep its choppers ready for dropping food packets and water bottles in certain marooned villages if the situation worsens. Boats are not able to reach these villages, though the authorities claim there is no water in the residential areas.
Crops in over 500 acres were submerged in the Chhachhrauli subdivision of Yamunanagar district today due to a breach in the Som near Chintpur village with the rivulet water level rising on account of rainfall in its catchments areas in Himachal Pardesh.
Despite the help of the Army, the 50-ft breach in the SYL canal near Jyotisar in Kurukshetra district has not been plugged yet. The authorities were able to plug another breach in the canal, which occurred 8 km upstream of the earlier breach, last night.
The patience of the people is wearing out, notwithstanding the efforts being made by the administration to provide them succour. Residents of Shahabad blocked the GT Road for about an hour today to protest against the failure of the administration to restore power supply, though the floodwaters have receded. Yesterday, Sadopur residents had blocked the Ambala-Chandigarh highway to protest against the absence of proper drainage.
Thankfully, the flow of water from Punjab is declining. But till the water level in the Ghaggar and the Tangri does not come down, the rainwater accumulated in Ambala district cannot be drained out.
About one lakh acres of agriculture land in about 247 villages of Kurukshetra district have been affected by the floodwaters. Residential areas in 67 villages have been damaged. As many as 19 villages in Guhla subdivision of Kaithal district have been badly affected due to a breach in the Ghaggar near Tatiana village. With the Hansi-Butana link canal overflowing, Kaithal town faces a serious threat of floods. An Air Force team was deputed to drain out water, which flooded the 66 KV substation at Chaurmastpur village. The power supply has been disrupted in the area for past two days. Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati told TNS that 349 trained men along with 52 rescue boats from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had reached the three districts.
Earlier in the day, Governor Jagannath Pahadia and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda reviewed the flood situation with the Chief Secretary and other senior officers. Hooda will again visit the three districts tomorrow.
A grant of Rs 2 lakh each by the Haryana Government and Rs 1 lakh each by the district Red Cross would be given to the next of kin of those killed in the floods.
— With inputs from Bhanu P. Lohumi, Kirandeep, Suman Bhatnagar and Satish Seth
Floods claim 2 more lives (8.7.10)
Suman Bhatnagar
Ambala, July 7
Before receding, the floodwaters claimed two more lives in Ambala district, taking the toll to six. Fifteen-year-old Happy of Ambala cantonment was drowned while crossing the Tangri river. A resident of Boh village, Bhupender Singh, was also drowned.
While residents of the twin cities of Ambala cantonment and Ambala city got some relief after the floodwaters began receding, villagers of surrounding areas continued to be a harassed lot. Sadopur villagers blocked the Chandigarh-Ambala highway to protest against the absence of a drainage policy. The blockade was lifted after an hour on the intervention of the police.
Ambala city’s Sector 9, Baldev Nagar, Manav Chowk, Police Lines, Model Town and Court Road were still under 3-ft water. In Ambala cantonment, Kabari Bazar, Rai Market and Mahesh Nagar remain water-logged.
The Kingfisher tourist complex continues to be under 4-ft water. Its functioning has been suspended since yesterday. The twin cities have been without electricity and water supply for the past 40 hours. Sources in the power department said water had entered the Dhoolkot power station, damaging machinery.
Rail traffic also remained disrupted today. Only Shatabdi Express, Jan Shatabdi and Bhatinda Intercity Express, were back on track today as were 15 goods trains to Punjab and Delhi. The rail track at Mohri and Dukheri stations continued to be water-logged.
Meanwhile, water is coming in the SYL canal from Punjab in a large quantity, which could create problem in the adjoining village close to Naggal. DC said the breach in the Tangri in Punjab had been plugged. The army had been deployed in Dadihana and Dandheri villages for the rescue operations.
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