Member of Parliament from Amritsar, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, on friday visited several border villages in the Ajnala constituency, including Chaharpur, Kotla, Panjgrain, Jatta, Ghonewal, Ghumrai, Darya Musa, Rudiwal, Dhangai, and other nearby areas to assess the condition of river embankments.
During the visit, he raised serious concerns over the deteriorating condition of flood protection infrastructure and alleged illegal mining activities in the region, questioning the state government's handling of the issue. Aujla said that the area had suffered significant damage during floods in previous years, but despite that, the government failed to take timely measures to strengthen embankments and spurs.
He alleged that funds spent over the past five years for the repair and maintenance of these structures should be subjected to an impartial investigation, as the ground reality paints a completely different picture. He stated that the condition of embankments in certain areas is extremely alarming, with river water flowing dangerously close to protective structures.
He warned that if water levels rise in the coming days, several border villages could face a serious threat. The MP also alleged that illegal mining is being carried out openly under the guise of desilting operations, adversely affecting the river's natural flow and increasing the risk of erosion.
He claimed that local residents had repeatedly submitted complaints to the authorities, but action appeared to be taken only after public protests. Questioning the administration's response, Aujla said that if all activities were being conducted according to rules and regulations, people would not be compelled to repeatedly take to the streets in protest.
He further asked who was allegedly shielding those involved in illegal mining and why the concerned departments were reluctant to act against them. Aujla asserted that merely showcasing development work on paper and approving bills worth crores of rupees cannot guarantee public safety.
He warned that unless concrete steps are taken promptly to strengthen embankments and curb illegal mining, local residents may have to bear the consequences in the future. He urged the Punjab Chief Minister to order a high-level inquiry into the matter, conduct a technical assessment of the embankments, and initiate strict action against officials and individuals found responsible for any irregularities.
Emphasizing that safeguarding the lives and property of citizens is the administration's foremost responsibility, Aujla cautioned that if timely corrective measures are not taken, the accountability for any future loss would rest with the concerned departments and the government.