Municipal Council, Doraha

Doraha is situated on G.T. Road, between Ludhiana and Khanna. It was known as “Kiasabad Chaurasi” Main Railway Line and Sirhind canal passes in the centre of the city. It is the main market of timber in Punjab. This is the last city of Patiala Riast.

This city has great political background. This area has given 2 Chief Ministers. First was S. Gian Singh Rara and the other was S. Beant Singh Ji Kotli. His son S. Tej Parkash Singh Ji M.L.A., Ex-Tpt. Minister Punjab, is looking after the area. S. Mihan Singh Gill was minister in the Govt. of S. Gian Singh Rara, S. Harnek Singh Mangewal was minister in the Govt. of S. Harcharan Singh Brar. S. Bhag Singh M.L.A., Smt. Nirlep Kaur M.L.A., S. Sadhu Singh Ghudani M.L.A., S. Malkit Singh Dakha all belong to this city. Municipal Council Doraha has fixed the Statue of S. Beant Singh, C.M. Punjab recently.

This city has the foot touch of the 6th Guru of Sikhism Sh. Hargobind Ji. Relating to him here are four places known as

1. Gurudwara Damdama Sahib
   
   
2. Ber Sahib
   
   
3. Sarai Sahib
   
   
   
   
4. Bauli Sahib

The building of Damdama Sahib has been modified recently and work of construction is going on. There are two Pata’s on the name of Gurudwara Sahib. One is of 568 Bigha and other is 70 Bighas. This Pata is written by Sh. Lakhi Chand is Samat 1695 on a piece of Iron. Second Pata is of 70 Bighas written in 1685 on the piece of Brass by Doraha Town.

This land has Four wells known as

• Bauli Sahib
  
  
• Baura Khoo (Well)
  
  
• Khara Khoo (well)(Demolished)
• Ucha Khoo (well)(Demolished)

Through these wells water was used to irrigate the agricultural land & Baghs.

There are Four Places of Miri Piri . The concerned Department has taken this place under its control.

At the time of AurangJeb, its military came here to spread the Muslim Religion. The Sikhs living here gave there sacrifice and the Hindus accepted Muslim Religion. The Pata’s of the above said land went in the hands of New Muslim families. Out of these new Muslim families there were two brothers known as Chuha &Muha. At the time of Partition of India in 1947 before going to Pakistan they came to Saint Kishan Singh along with above said two Pata’s and requested them to taken back in Sikhism. Saint Kishan Singh Ji took the Pata’s but refused to be back in Sikhism. Saint Kishan Singh to which community belongs, nothing is written. The representatives of Chuha-Muha, were Doha &Raha. Doha started living some other place and Raha started to live here. After him, the city began to called as Doraha.

Some people say that when 6th Guru Ji came here along with 52 Pahari Raja’s from Jail, and rested for a night here. On next morning Guru Ji went to Ghudani and Raja's went to their Rajdhani's (Capital's). In this way the city was called Doraha.

Some people says that when people went on foot to flow the Residual Bones. They rested at night in the Saran and on the next morning some went to Kirat Pur Sahib and some to Haridwar. So it was called Doraha.

Some say that all the Forts have only one Door. Only the Fort in Doraha has two doors. There for this reason it is called Doraha (meaning two-way).

The Doraha city has a college named Guru Nanak National College. It was founded by Dr. Ishwar Singh in 1974. Before this college the boys and girls went to Khanna & Ludhiana for higher education. There is another college also known as G.T.B. College. There is a Govt. Senior Secondary School, 2 Govt. Primary Schools and a Municipal Primary School. Except these Govt. schools other private educational institutions are also working which are known as Aryaputri Pathshalla, Khalsa Girls High School, Saraswati Model School, Shakti Model School, Dashmesh Model School, Guru Nanak Model Senior Secondary School etc.

At present the Municipal Council Doraha has the area of 6 K.M. The land of 8 villages has been merged init.

As per census 2001, the population of Doraha is 18,686 and at present is near about 20,000.

The Budget of 2002-2003 was 310-20. It was achieved 82% and the budget of 2003-04 was 380.51 and was achieved 100%. And for 2004-2005 is 353.55. The employees of M.C. are trying their best to achieve the target.

The main source of income is Octroi. The work of collection of Octori has given on contract. Except Octroi building Applications, House Tax, Licence Fee, Teh. Bazari, Water Supply &Sewer Bills, are the sources of Income.

Families Below Poverty Line A Survery was conducted in the year 2002 and after that in 2004. On the basis of these surveys 394 families were nominated as BPL. The population of these families is about 2000.

The main problem of the city is Sewerage. In 40% area, Sewerage has been laid down but the disposal of the same is main problem. Along with the canal, a Rainy Drain was constructed. The flow of this drain is not satisfactory. Municipal Council is of the view that if the charge of the Drain be handed over to M.C. Doraha then M.C. will purchage land near Deep Nagar Bridge and maintain the drain in 2 Parts. One part will be reserve for rainy water and the other will be used for sewer water. In the above said land, water treatment plant will be set-up. After treating the sewer water it will be used to irrigate the farms and excess water if any will be thrown into the canal.