Rajya Sabha Member Balbir Singh Seechewal's persistent advocacy has finally borne fruit as the Punjab government commenced construction of a paved road along the dhussi embankment on the Sutlej River. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the project from Gidderpindi to Phillaur on Friday, ending a 75-year-long wait for residents of flood-prone villages.
Foundation laid at Mandala Chhanna
The foundation stone was laid at Mandala Chhanna village in Shahkot, bringing hope to communities that have suffered repeated floods. Seechewal had written multiple letters to CM Mann urging the construction of a permanent road on the embankment. Following the CM's directives, a meeting chaired by then cabinet minister Meet Hayer was held at Punjab Bhawan on June 12, 2023, where Seechewal strongly advocated for the road and removal of silt under the Gidderpindi railway bridge.
Historical context of the embankment
The dhussi embankment along the Sutlej was built during the 1950s and 1960s under former Chief Minister Pratap Singh Kairon, who is still remembered for initiating the flood protection structures. Over the past 75 years, residents of the Gidderpindi region have endured 10 major and minor floods. People from dozens of villages had long demanded strengthening of the embankment and construction of a permanent road on it.
Three-phase construction plan
Officials of the Punjab State Mandi Board informed that the proposed link road from Gidderpindi to Phillaur will be built in three phases. The first phase involves a 37.93-kilometer road from Gidderpindi to Shahkot at a cost of Rs 61.82 crore. The second phase will cover 25.10 kilometers, while the third phase includes construction of a 32-kilometer paved road along the embankment.
Former sarpanch Sukhwinder Singh of Gatta Mundi Kasu noted that although residents had long dreamed of a road, no political party had taken the issue seriously before. He highlighted that Seechewal remained focused on the project for the last four years, personally surveying the entire stretch from Gidderpindi to Phillaur and formulating the project through the Mandi Board.
Among those present at the ceremony were Baba Pargat Nath of Rahimpur, Food Commission Chairman Bal Mukand Sharma, Constituency In-charge Parminder Singh Pandori, Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia, SSP Harvinder Singh Virk, SDM Lal Vishwas, Surjit Singh Shanti, and several other prominent members of the region.
