Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday asked the State Irrigation Department to prepare a master plan for carrying out flood protection works effectively in the State. Badal, presiding over meeting of Deputy Commissioners to monitor the progress of flood protection works, said that the master plan will help the State in spending funds judiciously on the flood protection works.
It will also help in saving huge funds being spent on giving compensation to the flood victims whose crops and house property was extensively damaged due to furry of floods especially in the wake of execution of these works in a haphazard manner, Badal said.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioners especially from flood prone districts — Ferozepur, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr and Ropar — raised a demand for financial resources to tackle the possible monsoon-related emergencies. It was decided to provide 13 high motor boats to various districts vulnerable to floods in the State.
The Chief Minister also directed the DCs to ensure completion of flood protection works in close supervision with officers of drainage wing of Irrigation Department besides cleaning of drains and strengthening of dhusi bandhs well in advance before the onset of monsoon.
The Chief Minister also asked the Finance Department to immediately release funds as estimated by the Irrigation department and as verified by the DCs of the districts on the basis of spot inspection. Badal also asked the Irrigation Secretary and local Government Secretary to come out with the joint proposal to clean the drains passing through the cities.