Ghaggar threat looms again: Sirsa farmers warn of flood risk amid weak embankments
As the monsoon approaches, anxiety is rising among farmers and villagers in Sirsa district over the fragile and damaged embankments lining the Ghaggar River. Memories of past floods, which submerged villages and destroyed crops, are still fresh and locals fear a repeat disaster unless urgent repairs are undertaken.
Ghaggar River enters Sirsa near Mattar village and flows nearly 75 km through the district before crossing into Rajasthan near Bani village. While certain stretches, particularly between Khairekan and Ottu Head, are flanked by paved embankments, large sections remain dangerously weak. These areas are marked by broken, earthen bunds riddled with rat holes and deep pits — conditions ripe for breaches once the river swells during heavy rains.
Despite repeated pleas from locals for the strengthening of embankments and the provision of basic infrastructure like roads and lighting along the riverbanks, little action has materialised. With just 10 days left before the expected arrival of the monsoon, no inspections or preventive measures have been initiated, say residents.
Farmer Richhpal Singh from Firozabad recalled how close his village came to flooding last year when the river water nearly overtopped the bunds. The administration’s response then was limited to stacking temporary sandbags. “A whole year has passed, but the same weak bunds remain. Even the local MLA hasn’t shown interest. If these aren’t reinforced with proper soil and structure, we’ll face the same crisis again,” he warned.
Another farmer, Jagdish Kumar from Dhanur village, pointed to silted channels and choked waterways, especially between Ottu Head and Rajasthan, as a major cause of repeated damage to their fields. “The Ghaggar’s main channel hasn’t been desilted since the lake’s construction. Our landholdings are small and losing crops two years in a row has pushed us to the brink,” he said, demanding urgent river cleaning and maintenance.
Echoing the concerns of the farming community, Congress MP Kumari Selja accused the state government of neglecting genuine developmental work and focusing on paperwork and “symbolic” efforts. She alleged that embankment work on both the Ghaggar and Yamuna rivers has been either absent or poorly executed. “When floods come after June 30, we’ll again hear excuses and see inflated, fake bills,” she said, blaming the irrigation department for corruption and inaction.
Selja highlighted the severity of last year’s disaster, in which four lives were lost, over 35,000 acres of crops were destroyed and entire villages in Ambala, Kaithal, Fatehabad and Sirsa were submerged. She warned that if the Ghaggar receives a flow of 20,000 cusecs this year, the poorly maintained bunds could once again collapse, causing widespread devastation.
In response, Irrigation Department Executive Engineer Ajit Hooda defended the department’s efforts. He said of the river’s 75-km stretch through Sirsa, 61 km are secured by embankments constructed by the department. The remaining 30 km — mostly between Mattar-Mallewala and Musahibwala-Farwai Kalan — fall under the responsibility of village panchayats. Hooda admitted that these community-managed bunds are more vulnerable to breaches.
He also explained that in 1994, a High Court stay prevented the construction of embankments in some areas due to petitions by villagers, resulting in only temporary structures being erected. However, he assured that the department has taken steps to prepare, including embankment cleaning under MGNREGA and stockpiling materials like soil bags for emergency use.
As the countdown to the monsoon begins, the gap between administrative assurances and ground realities continues to fuel concerns. For now, Sirsa’s farmers can only wait — and hope their calls for action are finally heeded before the rains arrive.
Haryana Tribune