A delegation of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by former minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal met governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday and urged him to take up the long-pending issues of recurring floods, construction of the Ujh dam and development of the border region with the central government.
“By the time it reaches Ajnala, it causes massive destruction. Dhaliwal later told reporters that he also brought to the governor’s notice the ₹ 1,600 crore compensation announced by the Prime Minister last time, which has still not been received. The delegation, comprising sarpanches, chairmen and zila parishad members, highlighted the massive destruction in Ajnala and adjoining areas due to the waters of the Ravi and Ujh rivers.
Dhaliwal said the Ujh river, which originates from Jammu and Kashmir, passes through Pathankot, Sujanpur, Dinanagar, Gurdaspur and Dera Baba Nanak before reaching Ajnala and then flowing into Pakistan. Farmers lose their crops, roads are damaged, schools collapse and fertile agricultural land is washed away,” he said. He said the construction of the Ujh dam will provide a permanent solution to the recurring flood threat to a large extent. He said the governor assured them that he would soon arrange a meeting between the delegation and the Union jal shakti minister.
The water of the Ujh River, which originates from Jammu and Kashmir, passes through Pathankot, Sujanpur, Dinanagar, Gurdaspur and Dera Baba Nanak before reaching Ajnala and then flowing into Pakistan. By the time it reaches Ajnala, it causes massive destruction. Farmers lose their crops, roads are damaged, schools collapse, and fertile agricultural land is washed away. No one is willing to establish industries in an area where there is a constant fear of floods and destruction. The people of Ajnala deserve permanent protection from this recurring crisis and a clear path towards sustainable development.”
Drawing the governor’s attention to the long-pending proposal for construction of a dam on the Ujh river, the Ajnala MLA said the central government’s plan to construct a dam on the Ujh river had been pending for the last 10 to 12 years. Earlier reporting noted: Highlighting the plight of the people of Ajnala, MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said, “Every year, the people of Ajnala suffer massive destruction due to the waters of the Ravi and Ujh rivers.
“We have requested the governor to strongly raise this issue with the Prime Minister and the Union ministry of jal shakti so that the construction of the dam can be completed at the earliest,” he said, calling for greater focus on border areas. Earlier reporting noted: He further said, “The continuous threat of floods has also affected the economic development of the region. Earlier reporting noted: Ajnala floods: AAP MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal meets Governor, demands dam on Ujh River Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Ajnala, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, along with a delegation comprising sarpanches, chairmen and Zila Parishad members from the constituency, met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday and urged him to take up the long-pending issues of recurring floods, construction of the Ujh Dam and development of the border region with the Central Government.
