Ghaggar River Floods and Management, Punjab

Recent heavy monsoon rains and the discharge of water in Sukhna Lake elevated the Ghaggar River beyond danger levels, triggering alerts in Mohali and Patiala. The situation is under control, but the incident underscores the frequent flood danger of the biggest rainfed river in Punjab.

River Profile

The Ghaggar is born in the Shivalik foothills in the area of Dagshai, Himachal Pradesh, flows through Haryana and enters Punjab at Dera Bassi. It is dry except during the monsoon, when it fills quickly, because it has a large catchment area, passing through Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur and Mansa. The river ultimately disappears into the Thar Desert through the old Hakra channel.

Flood Vulnerability

The Ghaggar is often referred to as the river of sorrow of Malwa as it often floods fields and villages during the monsoon killing crops, houses, and infrastructure. Flood risks are aggravated by encroachments, silt deposits and weak embankments. The threat is recurring due to major floods in 1988, 1993, 2008, 2019 and 2023.

Tributaries and Hydrology

The flood potential of the Ghaggar is enhanced by seasonal tributaries such as Kaushalya Nadi, Tangri, Markanda, Patiala Badi Nadi and Sirhind Choo. The only major flood-control structure in the basin is the Kaushalya Dam on Kaushalya Nadi.

Management Challenges

The Ghaggar does not have dams or reservoirs like Sutlej and Beas (perennial rivers). Local embankments and bundhs are relied on to manage floods, which in many cases are insufficient. Monitoring activities in real-time, strengthening embankments, and clearing encroachments play a critical role in safeguarding communities around the Malwa area of Punjab.

Conclusion

The seasonal and erratic nature of the Ghaggar River requires an overall flood management approach. Enhancement of infrastructure, detection and control systems and implementing a long-term river basin planning will be necessary to ensure that Punjab is not affected by the frequent flood disasters.