Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Ajnala, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, on Thursday met Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and submitted a memorandum seeking a permanent solution to the problem of severe floods that occur during the monsoon in Punjab’s border districts of Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar, particularly in the Ajnala sub-division. During the meeting, MLA Dhaliwal strongly demanded the construction of a dam on the Ujh River, which would help regulate the flow of the river and save Punjab from the devastation caused by recurring floods.
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Addressing the media after his meeting with the Lieutenant Governor, MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that due to Ajnala and the surrounding areas being situated downstream of the Ujh River, the region faces severe devastation during the monsoon due to sudden rises in water levels and heavy rainfall.
Referring to the unfortunate floods that occurred after 1988, in 2023, 2025 and this year in 2026, he said that floodwaters submerge agricultural land, destroy crops and cause severe damage to roads, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure. In addition, connectivity routes for BSF and Army personnel deployed along the border are disrupted, which is also a matter of concern from the perspective of national security.
He also emphasised that the state government spends substantial funds every year on emergency flood relief, strengthening the river embankments and improving the drainage system, but these measures are only temporary. A permanent solution to this serious problem is possible only by constructing a dam on the Ujh River and ensuring proper management of the water.
MLA Dhaliwal appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to raise this extremely important issue with the Prime Minister and the Union Jal Shakti Minister. He demanded that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and feasibility study be prepared for the construction of a dam at a technically suitable location. He said that the project would not only help control floods and store excess monsoon water, but would also boost hydroelectric power generation, tourism and the local economy.
