Monsoon threat looms over Gujrat as drainage projects remain unfinished

With the monsoon season approaching, District Gujrat appears to be heading into another rainy spell with several critical

GUJRAT: With the monsoon season approaching, District Gujrat appears to be heading into another rainy spell with several critical drainage issues still unresolved, raising fears of urban flooding, traffic disruption and damage to agricultural land if heavy rains hit the district in the coming weeks.
Although the district administration has repeatedly claimed that monsoon preparedness is under way, conditions on the ground suggest that much of the work remains unfinished.
Natural waterways, seasonal nullahs and storm drains at several locations are still clogged with silt, garbage, wild vegetation and encroachments, while the clean-up campaign announced ahead of the rainy season has yet to achieve visible results in many vulnerable areas.
One of the major concerns is the condition of natural water channels that carry rainwater from villages and urban settlements. Several seasonal nullahs remain partially blocked, reducing their carrying capacity and increasing the risk of overflow during heavy rainfall.
Residents fear that even a short spell of intense rain could flood low-lying neighbourhoods, damage homes and leave several roads submerged.
Concerns have also been raised over development schemes being executed by the Highways Department. A number of projects launched last year to improve drainage, widen culverts and restore natural water passages remain incomplete despite the arrival of another monsoon season.
At several sites, construction material, excavated earth and unfinished structures continue to obstruct the natural flow of rainwater instead of facilitating it.
Farmers are equally worried that blocked watercourses and incomplete drainage works may result in rainwater entering agricultural fields, threatening standing crops and causing financial losses.
Similar complaints have surfaced in previous monsoon seasons, but many residents believe little has changed on the ground.
Environmental observers say Gujrat’s recurring flooding problems are not caused by rainfall alone but by delayed execution of development schemes, weak coordination among departments and failure to remove encroachments from natural drainage routes.
They argue that emergency measures announced only days before the monsoon cannot replace year-round planning and maintenance.
Citizens have questioned why departments responsible for flood prevention accelerate work only after the rainy season approaches. According to residents, preventive measures should have been completed months in advance, allowing sufficient time to inspect vulnerable locations and remove all obstructions before the first heavy spell.
Contacted for comments, Official from Deputy Commissioner office Gujrat said the district administration had already launched a monsoon preparedness campaign and directed all relevant departments to complete desilting of drains and remove encroachments from vulnerable points.
He maintained that emergency response teams, machinery and rescue resources had been placed on standby, while remaining work was being completed on a priority basis.
An official of the Highways Department said delays in some ongoing schemes were caused by technical issues, including utility shifting and funding constraints. He said contractors had been instructed to speed up work and complete all pending drainage-related projects before the peak monsoon period.
However, visits by Minute Mirror to several locations found that work at multiple sites was still incomplete, with blocked drains, unfinished culverts and obstructed water passages visible in different parts of the district.
Residents, meanwhile, questioned whether the remaining work could realistically be completed before heavy rainfall begins. They said similar assurances had been given in previous years, yet many flood-prone areas continue to face the same problems every monsoon.
As dark monsoon clouds begin gathering over Punjab, Gujrat once again appears to be racing against time. Unless pending drainage projects are completed, natural waterways restored and the clean-up operation accelerated without delay, the district may once again find itself struggling not only against heavy rainfall but also against the consequences of administrative delays and unfinished development work.