Shegarh - Guhna Link Channel

Nearly 20 villages of Kaithal Assembly Constituency comprising of 12,009 acres of agricultural land have suffered from lack of adequate or even minimal irrigation facilities relying solely upon extraction of underground water of unirrigatable quality with high fluoride content.

With herculean efforts of then Kaithal MLA, Ch. Shamsher Singh Surjewala and now Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala; the historical Shergarh-Guhna Link Channel measuring 74,700 feet (22.77 KMs) has been constructed at a cost of Rs.1,987 lakh. Foundation stone for this Channel was laid on 19-05-2006 and it was inaugurated on 08-06-2009.

This Channel carries a huge quantity of 60 cusecs of water (average size of irrigation channels in Haryana is 5-10 cusecs of water). This Channel has proved to be life line of Kaithal Assembly Constituency for providing canal water for irrigation. This important Link Channel has proved to be a boon for farmers and farm labourers, thereby benefiting 12,009 acres of agricultural land of Villages Deodkheri, Shergarh, Devigarh, Patti Chaudhary, Patti Koth, Silla Khera, Kutubpur, Bhanpura, Franswala, Garhi, Chhot, Padla, Dunderheri and Guhna.

Extension of Shergarh Guhna Link Channel

A long standing demand of Kaithal and Kalayat Assembly Constituencies has been to construct an extension of Shergarh-Guhna Link Channel. Reason again is lack of availability of good underground water for irrigation as also the fact that this Southern-West area of Kaithal District is at the tail end of all water channels like Shergarh Minor, Kaithal Sub Minor, Bhanpura Sub Minor and Guhna Minor.

With efforts and intervention of Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala; Shergarh-Guhna Link Channel has been extended at a cost of Rs.350 lakh from RD 74,700 to RD 91,400. It has resulted in additional irrigation of 2,415 acres of agricultural land in Villages Guhna, Malkheri, Sanghan, Padla, Dillowali and Haripura.

Pursuant to extension, total length of Shergarh-Guhna Link Channel is now 91,400 feet (27.86 KMs).

This extension of Shergarh-Guhna Link Channel was inaugurated on 12-11-2012.

A few photographs are:

Extension Shergarh-Guhna Link Channel

Augmentation of Dundrehri Minor

Capacity of Dunderheri Minor has been increased to 20.66 cusecs at a cost of Rs.92.00 lakh. This has benefited agricultural land of Village Kutubpur, Diwal, Dunderheri, Guhna, Chandana and Rehrian.

Re-modelling/Reconstruction of Kaithal Sub-minor

Kaithal Sub-Minor irrigates western area of Kaithal Assembly Constituency and had been lying in dis-use for over 20 years. This Sub-Minor was in a dilapidated condition with its lining having completely broken down. Resultant effect was denial of irrigation water to the farmers of 7-8 villages.

On the intervention and at the instance of Ch. Shamsher Singh Surjewala and Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala as also after consulting the experts from departments of Agriculture and Irrigation, it was decided to close down this Sub-Minor and construct another Sub-Minor on its bank by raising the bed level by 1 feet.

Resultantly, Kaithal Sub Minor has been reconstructed at a cost of Rs.222.60 lakh with a length of 30,785 feet (9.8 KMs). Seven small bridges have also been reconstructed.

This irrigation channel has a capacity of 25 cusecs of water and has benefited 5,739 acres of agricultural land in Villages Franswala, Khurana, Khanpur, Patti Afghan, Patti Gadli and Magho Majri.

This irrigation channel was inaugurated by Ch. Shamsher Singh Surjewala and Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala on 23-03-2011.

Construction of a Bridge near Ujhana on Kaithal Drain.

Kaithal Drain runs parallel to Kaithal-Ambala National Highway-65 from Village Keorak upto Kaithal City. Opposite Village Ujhana (situated on this Kaithal-Ambala National Highway-65), a link road connects Kaithal-Ambala National Highway-65 to Kaithal-Kurukshetra State Highway. This link road crosses Kaithal Drain as it off takes from Kaithal-Ambala National Highway-65. There was an old narrow bridge on this Drain which was in a completely dilapidated and unsafe condition. This made the commutation difficult. Even otherwise, this link road enables people coming from Ambala to take direct route to Kurukshetra.

With the intervention of Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala, a new broad bridge was sanctioned and has been constructed at a cost of Rs.125 lakh. Foundation stone for this bridge was laid by Ch. Shamsher Singh Surjewala and Randeep Singh Surjewala on 02-06-2012 and it was inaugurated and dedicated to people by them on 20-10-2012.

A few photographs are:

Bridge near Ujhana on Kaithal Drain

Flood Control Measures

Entire Kaithal District is flood prone. During rainy season in particular, Ghaggar River as also Saraswati Distributory carry flood water downstream from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab as also Ambala and Kurukshetra Districts of Haryana in the natural flow towards Kaithal. Overflow of Bibipur Lake in Pehowa and any breach in SYL Canal between Ambala and Kurukshetra also results in natural flow of flood water towards Kaithal.

In the year 1995, this flood water caused extensive devastation in the entire Kaithal District. Portion of the District that always bears the first onslaught of oncoming flood water are the villages of Keorak, Jagdishpura, Kultaran and mainly the City of Kaithal.

A similar flood situation emerged in the year 2010. On account of extraordinary efforts led by Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala; entire governmental machinery and people of the District geared up to minimize the devastation and its side effects. As a result, Kaithal city and entire area of the District downstream was saved by day and night vigil of the ‘bandh’ on Kaithal Drain. A vigil by administration and paramilitary forces was also put to ensure that the Hansi-Butana Link Canal crossing the District was not breached. By this month long day-night cumulative yet huge challenge faced jointly by administration and people of the District, flood damage was restricted to a few villages of Kaithal, Pundri and Guhla-Cheeka Assembly Constituencies.

Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala has accordingly drafted and implemented a detailed flood control plan for future.

Some of these are:

• Remodelling of Kaithal Drain and Stone Pitching in Kaithal City Portion

  Kaithal Drain is a principal drainage artery for tackling flood water of District Kaithal. Kaithal Drain takes off from the pond of Keorak Village. It crosses Kaithal City on the side in a circular manner and finally outfalls in Ghaggar River. Total length of Kaithal Drain is 1,63,600 feet (49.86 KMs), out of which the last 18,000 feet (5.49 KMs) falls in Punjab portion.

  Following long term measures have been implemented:-

  • Existing capacity of Kaithal Drain was only 219 cusecs. This capacity has been enhanced to 1,026 cusecs at the instances and with long term vision of Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala.
  • Existing width of bed of Kaithal Drain near Villages Keorak and Jagdishpura was 19 feet. Width has been increased to 70 feet.
  • Around Kaithal City, existing width of bed of Kaithal Drain was 50 feet. It has been increased to 75 feet.
  • In nearby villages of Diwal and Franswala, width of bed of Kaithal Drain was 50 feet. It has been increased to 82 feet.
  • As a final flood control measure, entire portion of left bank of Kaithal Drain passing in circular manner around Kaithal city has been ‘stone-pitched’ at a cost of Rs.700 lakh. Portion of ‘stone-pitching’ is RD 0 to RD 7950 i.e. 7,950 feet and RD 132800 to RD 116537 i.e. 16,263 feet. Hence, a total 24,213 feet area around Kaithal city has been ‘stone-pitched’.

  Foundation stone for the works mentioned at above was laid by Ch. Shamsher Singh Surjewala and Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala on 23-04-2011. This work has been completed and dedicated to people on 06-11-2011.

  A few photographs are:

  
  

   

• Construction of New Siphon Under Bml Hansi- Butana Link Canal in Village Keorak

  Kaithal Drain crosses under BML Hansi-Butana Link Canal on RD 158950 and RD 147250. This underground Siphon of Kaithal Drain has a capacity of 440 cusecs near Village Keorak.
  
  During the 2010 floods, right bank of existing Siphon gave way resulting in overflow of water. A direct consequence was flooding of abadi of Keorak village and surrounding areas.
  
  Residents of Village Keorak and surrounding villages had pointed out this to Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala with a demand that capacity of the Siphon needs to be enhanced.
  
  Experts from IIT Roorkee were accordingly asked to examine the issue.They recommended construction of an additional siphon of 440 cusecs.
  
  With intervention of Randeep Singh Surjewala, an additional siphon of Kaithal Drain to cross under BML Hansi-Butana Link Canal was sanctioned and has been constructed at a cost of Rs.150 lakh. This was inaugurated and dedicated to people by Ch. Shamsher Singh Surjewala and Randeep Singh Surjewala on 23-03-2011.
  
  Kaithal Drain now crosses BML Hansi-Butana Link Canal through two siphons of 440 cusecs each i.e. a total of 880 cusecs.This has benefited Villages Keorak, Jagdishpura, Ujhana, Kultaran, Khurana and Kaithal city.

  A few photographs are:

  
  

   

• Doubling the Capacity of Siphon of Saraswati River Near Village Nauch

  Saraswati Drain crosses Hansi-Butana Bhakra Main Line Link Canal near Village Nauch in Kaithal. During the floods of 2010, existing Siphon/Barrel structure of 1000 cusecs of Sararswati Drain was extensively damaged causing floods. Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala had personally inspected the site and asked for remodeling of the entire structure by creating additional draining capacity to meet with any future exigencies. Accordingly, hydrology experts from IIT, Roorkee were assigned the task, who had advised construction of additional Siphon/Barrel of 1,000 cusecs capacity.
  
  This additional Siphon/Barrel of 1,000 cusecs capacity now stands constructed at the spot at a cost of Rs.190 lakh.
  

• Construction of a toe wall between the common bank of Ghaggar River and Hansi-Butana Bhakra Main Line Link Canal.

  Post-Independence and to prevent this entire region of the present day Kaithal, and Kurukshetra in Haryana and Patiala and Sangrur in Punjab, a 55 KM long Ring Bandh of Ghaggar River was constructed after acquisition of land. This Ring Bandh extends from present day Khanauri in District Patiala, Punjab to present day Bhagal in District Kaithal. Punjab Portion of Ghaggar River Bandh is from RD 0 to RD 45000 and portion of this Bandh in Haryana starts from RD 45001 in Village Urlana, District Kaithal to RD 65000 in Village Bhagal, District Kaithal..
  
  During the floods of 1993, a breach occurred in Ghaggar River around RD 50000 in Guhla-Cheeka causing massive flooding of all the villages including Cheeka. This water eventually reached Kaithal City and other areas causing extensive damage to life and property including standing crops.
  
  In 2010 floods, a similar breach in Ghaggar River occurred between RD 52000 to RD 53000 of this Bandh. Incidentally, this Bandh is also the left bank of Hansi-Butana Bhakra Main Link Canal as both the Ghaggar River and Hansi-Butana Bhakra Main Line Canal run parallel to each other for a few kilometers. It again caused devastation and damage to crops and property besides abadi of villages.
  
  Kaithal MLA & Cabinet Minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala extensively toured the entire area on foot. Hydrology experts from IIT, Roorkee were called besides officers of Departments of Irrigation and Agriculture. Extensive consultation was also held with local populace. Accordingly, it was decided to strengthen the entire area between RD 45000 to RD 57000 by constructing a concrete Toe Wall so that development of creeks does not lead to breach in this Bandh of Ghaggar River in future.
  
  With extensive efforts of Randeep Singh Surjewala, Government sanctioned elaborate funds for construction of this concrete Toe Wall. Accordingly, this concrete Toe Wall has been constructed on the spot at a cost of Rs.865 lakh. This work was started on 23-04-2011 and has been completed on 19-09-2011.
  
  State of Punjab challenged construction of this Toe Wall on the plea that this will flood Patiala District. Extensive politics was played upon the same by Akali Dal-BJP led Punjab Government even inside and outside the Assembly. Undeterred by this false propaganda and led by Randeep Singh Surjewala, State of Haryana contested the case ably in Supreme Court of India. Finally on 06-11-2011, Supreme Court of India rejected the claim of State of Punjab upholding construction of this Toe Wall as a flood protection measure.

  A few photographs are: