Punjab Moves to Channelise Swan River After Devastating Monsoon Floods
In response to extensive flooding this monsoon, the Punjab government has initiated plans to channelise the Swan River in Ropar district, with officials also exploring the possibility of constructing a dam on the river. A detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared by the state’s Drainage Department.
The Swan, originally known for causing flooding in Una district of Himachal Pradesh, has increasingly impacted Punjab. While Himachal had channelised the river stretch within its borders, the floodwaters now spill into Ropar, Uttar Ropar, Nawanshahr, and parts of Ludhiana via its confluence with the Sutlej. During peak monsoon flow this year, the Swan contributed about 90,000 cubic feet per second of water into the Sutlej—more than what was released from Bhakra Dam in the same period.
Executive Engineer of Drainage, Anandpur Sahib, confirmed that channelisation plans are underway, with the preparation of the DPR directing the scope and design of works. In parallel, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that the government had tasked its drainage department with exploring dam construction, which, if built, could help buffer floodwaters during peak periods.
The proposed works aim to reclaim large tracts of farmland in Ropar, protect downstream areas from frequent inundation, and reduce damage to infrastructure and crops. The cost and funding of the project are yet to be finalised, but state officials are expected to seek financial assistance from the Union Ministry of Water Resources once the DPR is completed.
The Swan River has its origins in Dhaulatpur in Una district of Himachal Pradesh. Within Himachal, nearly 70 km of the river and its 600 tributaries have already been channelised. Beyond the state line, the stream passes through Nangal subdivision, traverses about 40 km in Ropar district, and merges with the Sutlej near Anandpur Sahib.
Historically, British-era proposals had included a plan for a dam on the Swan, but post-independence priorities, notably the construction of the Bhakra-Nangal Dam, pushed those plans aside. Financial constraints and shifting administrative focus prevented the earlier initiatives from moving forward.
Local communities and river experts are urging the authorities to fast-track the current proposals, warning that without regulation, rivers like Swan and Sirsa will continue causing damage to agriculture, property, and lives in low-lying zones. As Punjab reels from this year’s flooding, the focus is turning to long-awaited structural interventions aimed at mitigating recurring flood risks.
