Ambala MP Varun Chaudhry has threatened to launch a large-scale protest in the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency if the government fails to take adequate steps to resolve persistent waterlogging issues.
The MP was addressing a dharna near the Tangri River in Ambala Cantonment on Monday.
Chaudhry said despite repeated damage suffered by people living in colonies along Tangri River bed, as well as industries located near the river due to flooding and severe waterlogging, the authorities have not taken sufficient measures to protect residents and businesses.
He was accompanied by Congress District President (Rural) Dushyant Chauhan, Urban President Pawan Aggarwal, former information commissioner Ashok Mehta, Atul Mahajan, Harminder Heera, Satish Kanaujia and several other Congress leaders from Ambala Cantonment.
The MP said that with the monsoon season approaching, neither the government nor the administration appeared to be prioritising desilting of the Tangri River and other water bodies. He said Ambala Cantonment and surrounding residential and industrial areas face heavy losses every year during the rainy season, disrupting daily life. Homes are inundated, businesses suffer setbacks and farmers’ crops are destroyed.
“While the government makes tall claims about development, no concrete action is being taken at the grassroots level on critical issues such as drainage, river cleaning and flood control,” Chaudhry said. He added that desilting work on the Tangri River had begun at a “very sluggish pace and in a piecemeal manner”, and that no excavation had been carried out in the main river channel where water flows. He also said no steps had been initiated to desilt the Ghaggar River.
He further said that recurring waterlogging in the industrial area of Ambala Cantonment had led to insurance coverage being denied outright or offered at higher premiums, causing significant financial losses to the business community.
Chaudhry warned that if cleaning and desilting of the Tangri River and other water bodies were not carried out in time, Ambala could face serious consequences during the upcoming monsoon.
“We have launched a signature campaign to raise these concerns. People of the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency have suffered heavy losses over the years due to waterlogging. If the government fails to take concrete steps, a massive protest will be launched with public support,” he said.
