Brigadier Raj Kumar Meets Principal Secretary to Address Water Resource Issues in Balachaur
Parmod Bharti
Nawanshahr April 04,2026
Brigadier Raj Kumar (Retd.), Chairman of the Gujjar Welfare Board, Punjab, met Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department, Krishan Kumar, at his office in Chandigarh to discuss key issues related to water resources in the Balachaur constituency. The meeting was attended by local sarpanches and other prominent members of the area.
During the discussion, Brigadier Raj Kumar highlighted that the primary objective of the Kandi Canal was to develop and irrigate the barren lands along the Shivalik foothills. However, he pointed out that most of the benefits are currently being availed by the plains, where tube wells are already in place.
In response, Principal Secretary Krishan Kumar informed the delegation that a separate irrigation project for villages including Pojewal, Shushuwal, Raudi, Torowal, and nearby areas is in its final stage. He stated that the project is expected to supply water to agricultural fields within the next three to four months.
Brigadier Raj Kumar appreciated the initiative, stating that the Aam Aadmi Party-led government is moving towards fulfilling a long-pending demand of people living in the barren Kandi region for nearly 60 years. He termed this as a major achievement. He also criticized previous governments, alleging that had they been more concerned about farmers, there would have been no misuse of funds allocated for the canal project, nor would officials have faced punitive actions.
The Brigadier also pointed out that increasing dust and noise pollution in villages are adversely affecting public health. In several instances, heavy tipper trucks pass close to schools and residential areas, exposing children and the elderly to dust and increasing the risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma.
Taking note of the concerns, Principal Secretary Krishan Kumar assured that necessary action would be taken by his department. He further stated that the application submitted by Brigadier Raj Kumar would be forwarded to the Principal Secretary of the Mining Department for appropriate action.
The meeting concluded with assurances of timely intervention to address both irrigation and environmental challenges in the Balachaur region.