The very air in Patiala carries a palpable sense of anxiety as the monsoon season draws near, especially for residents living along the flood-prone Ghaggar river. The devastating memories of the 2023 floods, which wreaked havoc across the district, are still painfully fresh, prompting villagers to brace themselves for the worst with a blend of apprehension and weary preparedness. For communities nestled alongside the Ghaggar, the approach of the monsoon translates into an annual drill of survival. Mandeep Kaur, a 53-year-old resident of Dharamherhi village, exemplifies this grim reality as she meticulously sets up a temporary kitchen on the first floor of her home. This is not an act of luxury but a necessity, an annual ritual shared by hundreds of families who routinely move their rations, potable water, and even dry fodder for cattle to higher ground, anticipating inundation. The fear of flooding has permeated the social fabric, even impacting matrimonial prospects. Villagers along the Ghaggar catchment areas report difficulties in arranging marriages for their sons, as potential brides’ families are reluctant to send their daughters into areas perpetually threatened by floods. This profound social disruption underscores the deep psychological and practical impact of living under the Ghaggar’s shadow. Flowing from the Shivalik hills, this seasonal river has a history of causing widespread devastation, particularly in 2010 and 2023, besides inflicting damage almost every alternate year. Residents like Niranjan Singh of Hashampur Mangta, a village severely hit in 2023, express a profound sense of insecurity. They feel abandoned by leaders who make promises during elections only to vanish, leaving behind hollow assurances and insufficient funds for effective flood mitigation.
A significant concern revolves around the state of the river banks and beds. Villagers in Ghanaur and Sanaur, who experienced their fertile agricultural land being washed away in 2023, point to minimal work undertaken to strengthen the banks or clean the riverbed. Former irrigation officials shed light on a critical issue: the once expansive river banks, spanning nearly 500 meters in some places, have been progressively encroached upon by illegal structures and deras over the years. This unchecked encroachment, often fueled by political interference, has drastically reduced the river’s natural sheet spread area, directly contributing to the severity of flooding. Despite official assurances from authorities in Patiala that tenders have been floated and work is in progress, the pace of these efforts, particularly the cleaning of rivers and rivulets, has been sluggish. This delay, coupled with persistent encroachments, continues to spark panic among local residents and villagers. The onus is now squarely on the Drainage Department and the Municipal Corporation to coordinate efforts, expedite desilting, repair river banks, and, crucially, address the root cause of encroachments to prevent a repeat of past calamities. The resilience of Patiala’s communities is undeniable, yet their continued reliance on makeshift solutions and a pervasive sense of dread highlight the urgent need for comprehensive, sustained governmental action to tame the Ghaggar’s fury and safeguard lives and livelihoods.
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