Ahead of the monsoon season, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday directed Deputy Commissioners overseeing flood protection efforts in the districts to give utmost priority to the cleaning of drains in their respective districts. He instructed them to immediately prepare a schedule and assign officers to monitor the work, ensuring its completion under all circumstances before June 15. In addition, all Superintending Engineers in the field must ensure that drain cleaning is carried out thoroughly in their respective areas.
The Chief Minister was presiding over a meeting with officers from the Irrigation and Water Resources Department and the Public Health Engineering Department to review the progress of short-term flood protection works and the internal clearance of drains here today.
Expressing concern with the current pace of internal clearance of drains, Saini said that there is limited time before the onset of the monsoon, and the work is lagging behind. He directed officers to set clear timelines and complete all pending tasks without delay. He also said that the Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, along with other Administrative Secretaries, will review the progress again on June 10. If any negligence is found on the part of any officer, strict action will be taken accordingly.
Reviewing the broader flood protection measures, Saini said that officers should focus on short-term measures and ensure the completion of ongoing schemes related to flood control. He also instructed them to assess the condition and availability of pumps required for dewatering purposes. In addition, he directed the officers to identify the causes of waterlogging in specific areas and formulate targeted schemes to provide permanent solutions. The Chief Minister further said that flood protection works recommended by public representatives and panchayats should be given priority and completed at the earliest.
The government official spokesperson said that during the meeting, it was informed that the Irrigation and Water Resources Department is working on an ambitious project to utilize the existing channels of the SYL and Hansi-Butana Link Canals for water storage during the monsoon. The plan involves diverting water from drains and the Ghaggar River into both canals and constructing temporary barriers to retain the water. This initiative aims not only to prevent floods and recharge groundwater but also to support irrigation needs, he added.