Ghaggar Widening, Embankment at Tiwana Soon: Goyal

Chandigarh, July 15: Punjab Water Resources Minister Barindar Kumar Goyal, while responding to a call attention motion, informed that the proposal to widen the Ghaggar river near village Tiwana in the Dera Bassi and strengthen its embankment is under consideration.

Responding to the call attention motion presented in the Vidhan Sabha by MLA Dera Bassi Kuljit Singh Randhawa, the Water Resources Minister said that due to heavy rainfall in 2023, the water level in the Ghaggar at Village Tiwana had risen significantly. Consequently, floodwater from the Ghaggar River inundated the cultivable land on the left bank and erosion caused the ground level to drop by approximately 8 to 10 feet. Subsequently, the department installed stone revetment and studs along a 2500-foot stretch to protect the cultivable land from erosion. They supported this revetment by constructing an embankment behind it and filling it with soil. He informed that the department spent Rs.5.06 crores on this project.

Goyal revealed that heavy rainfall occurred in the Ghaggar’s catchment area on June 29, 2025. The rain caused the river’s water level to surge suddenly. However, the stone revetment remained completely intact. However, the soil embankment behind the revetment suffered some erosion in certain areas. The department immediately took action and completed the embankment repairs. The department carried out this restoration work entirely on its own. He mentioned that on July 8, 2025, substantial water flow occurred again in the Ghaggar River. It passed through without causing any damage to the embankment.

The Cabinet Minister Barindar Kumar Goyal, reiterated that the proposal is under consideration to widen the Ghaggar River on the right side near Village Tiwana. The excavated soil will be used to broaden and strengthen the left bank. He indicated that the department will undertake this work immediately. The estimated cost is around Rs.11 lakh.