Even before the flood, the erosion in Chenab river has eaten away some 10,000 feet area of Burj Cheema and Thathi Baloch villages falling in Gujranwala district during the current year.

Almost 8,000 acres of 30 villages along the Chenab strip located towards west of the Head Khanki division have already been eroded during the last three years. Further erosion is feared as there is no spur nearby these villages.

The fate of almost 45 villages in the division, including 30 in the riverbed, is at stake owing to the expected flood.

The main reason for the erosion is said to be the presence of a number of spurs in Gujrat which is causing the river to change its course, now a hanging sword for adjacent villages.

Farmer Haji Ziaullah of Burj Cheema said the erosion had swallowed around half of the village area (2,000 acres) while the high flood would sweep the entire village.

Another farmer Hafiz Tassaduq of Burj Dhilla said the village was threatened with erosion, but the authorities concerned had done nothing.

Another farmer, Haji Muhammad Yaqoob of Faqeeranwali village, said almost 6,000 acres of three villages had come under erosion in last few years because of a number of spurs in Gujrat. He demanded the construction of spurs in these villages to stem more river erosion.

These villagers, whose forefathers had migrated from Azad Kashmir, said they were too poor to leave their villages. They said they had expertise only in farming and knew no other skill.

Head Khanki XEN Muhammad Waseem Butt said that river erosion had swallowed 6,000 feet land of Burj Cheema and Thathi Baloch while spurs would be built in line with the direction of experts.

He said that rivers changed their course naturally and areas coming under them became more fertile when they adopted another course.

Mr Butt shot down villagers’ claim that a series of spurs constructed in Gujrat had caused the change of river flow towards their villages.

Head Khanki SDO Muhammad Shafique said that villagers risked their lives and property and did not shift from their villages nestled in the riverbed despite fear of flood and erosion every year.

He said the flood could harm several villages, including Kot Nathu, Ghari, Tehli Sahib, Gurali, Chak Ali Shair, Ratuwali, Kot Jaffar, Faqeeranwali, Kot Kahlawan, Kot Imam Bux, Thathi Baloch, Lundpur, Phaloki, Wadala Cheema and Dhonke.

The SDO said that the irrigation department had constructed embankments some five-feet higher than the high flood marks, wet-channels and 17 spurs at the Khanki Headworks.