To solve the problem of waterlogging in south-western parts of Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday gave nod for initiating a massive drive to clean and de-silt ponds in village at Fazilka and Muktsar districts.

During rainy season, the ponds in these districts hold excess water to save the people from the waterlogging. But during the rest of the year those were used for disposal of waste water, the Chief Minister said.

To check the same, a massive drive must be initiated to clean and de-silt these ponds, so that their capacity could be enhanced, he said, while presiding over a high-level meeting.

At present, there are about 440 ponds in the two districts over an area of nearly 1,300 acres. The move would help in lowering the level of water in ponds, Badal said.

The massive drive must be completed by April so as to give reprieve to people during the rainy season, the Chief Minister said.  He asked the Irrigation Secretary Kahan Singh Pannu to supervise the entire exercise by constituting teams at block level. “The concerned Deputy Commissioners would be entrusted with the task of carrying out the work in their respective districts” he said.

Badal also underscored the need to start a campaign to motivate the farmers to go for deep ploughing in the water logged areas so as to enhance farm productivity in these districts.

A special campaign must be initiated during the period between harvest of wheat crop and sowing of paddy, so as to make the farmers of water logged districts aware about the benefits of deep ploughing,

he said.