Ghaziabad: The irrigation department has proposed raising the floor of Upper Ganga Canal (UGC) by at least 50 cm along a 155 m stretch near Muradnagar, popularly known as Choti Haridwar, to reduce drowning deaths. The department has allocated Rs 5 crore for the additional work.The work is planned during the canal’s annual desiltation from Oct 20 to Nov 8, when the water level is lowered.“This year the irrigation department will carry out a desiltation exercise, which requires drying up 185 km of UGC from Haridwar in Uttarakhand to Dasna. This year, however, in view of drowning deaths in Chota Haridwar, which is in Muradnagar, the department will carry out work on the plinth of the canal bed along the ghat, which will help decrease the depth,” said an official from the irrigation department.The official said the floor along the stretch that primarily forms the bathing ghat will be constructed afresh. “It will serve two purposes — we will get rid of the slippery floor of the canal, which will also decrease the depth. We believe that this will put an end to drowning deaths because what we have learnt is that people accidentally slip into the canal while bathing and get washed away by strong water current. However, the department still maintains that UGC is not meant for swimming or bathing,” the official added.The irrigation department, which is the custodian of the canal, said: “It is not a place to indulge in water sports. The average depth of the canal is about 3 to 4 metres, and the current is very strong. The irrigation department is required to maintain a specific water current in the canal.” The continuous flow makes the solid surface slippery and muddy. An iron railing and signage warn people not to cross the railings.The 185 km canal from Haridwar to Dasna was built in the 1850s during British rule to irrigate the adjoining areas. Over time, Choti Haridwar acquired religious significance and draws devotees in large numbers. It also became a spot for water sports, especially in summer, when people from NCR areas frequent it.Over the past few months, NDRF has carried out search and rescue missions along the canal. It made 18 attempts in 2026 alone, compared with 14 in 2025. In many cases, it takes days to trace the body, and sometimes it cannot be traced at all. The current is so strong that bodies have at times been found more than 15 km downstream.
