Reiterating the commitment of SAD-BJP alliance Government to make Punjab “waterlogging-free”, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday formally launched ‘Roko Sem’ campaign to stamp out waterlogging menace from the south western part of the State.
launching the campaign, Badal vowed that every inch of land in south western Punjab would be made free from curse of waterlogging, which has given a severe blow to the State’s economy.
“Massive efforts would be made to save the people of south-western parts of the State from the scourge of waterlogging,” he said, adding that `240 crore would be spent on anti-waterlogging activities for wiping out this menace from this portion of the State.
CM said that in the initial stage, work for de-watering and de-silting 452 ponds in 263 waterlogged villages would be undertaken. During the rainy seasons, these ponds were used for carrying excess water in these districts to save people from waterlogging, he said.
“However, these ponds, during the rest of the year, are used merely for disposal of waste water, thus a massive drive has been initiated to clean and de-silt these ponds, so that their capacity could be enhanced,” he added.
Badal categorically said that this move would help in lowering the level of water in ponds adding that this massive drive must be completed by April so as to give reprieve to people during the rainy season.
He also asked the state Irrigation Secretary Kahan Singh Pannu to supervise the entire exercise by constituting teams at block level. He said that the concerned Deputy Commissioners would be entrusted with the task of carrying out the work in their respective districts.