To check the menace of waterlogging in the State far more efficaciously, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday asked the State Irrigation Department to upgrade drainage system to check waterlogging in south-western districts of the State.
Badal, on a visit to the rain-affected areas and after talking to the affected people in the villages of Sri Muktsar Sahib district, emphasised the need for upgrading, widening and strengthening the existing drainage system in waterlogged districts of State.He said that strengthening the drainage system was a part of the State Government’s ambitious master plan to tackle the menace of water logging. He added that it would help in reducing the retention period of excess water from currently 14-21 days to seven days by disposing it off expeditiously.
Badal is on a tour to the rain-affected districts of the State for the second consecutive day to assess the losses incurred due to rain in the waterlogged areas.Meanwhile, to compensate the affected people, Badal asked the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) NS Kang to monitor the entire process personally so that people could be given relief in a prompt manner.
The Chief Minister also asked the Irrigation department to explore the feasibility of creating a separate post of Chief Engineer (floods) for the region so that a meticulous planning could be made to save the people from the menace of floods.There has been moderate to heavy rainfall in some parts of Punjab during this month.
later on, interacting with the media persons, the Chief Minister said that the entire plan for complete overhaul of the damaged infrastructure in the waterlogged villages would be ready within a fortnight and after the concurrence of the villagers, the work for reconstruction would be started within a month.“The State Government is fully aware of the gravity of the situation and no stone would be left unturned to help the people in this hour of distress. The top brass of the State Government is already visiting every village to assess the loss so that necessary action could be taken,” he said.
Soliciting the support and cooperation of people in this gigantic task, the Chief Minister urged them to personally monitor the rescue and rehabilitation measures being taken by the State Government.“Every officer of the state government is fully accountable to the people for every work done by them... With the active public support, the State Government could perform its duty far more efficiently and in a planned manner,” he added.