In what is being hailed as one of the most ambitious rural rejuvenation missions in recent times, the Punjab Government has undertaken a historic campaign to clean, restore, and repurpose over 15,000 village ponds across the state. The initiative aims to correct decades of environmental neglect and breathe new life into Punjab's rural landscape.
Announcing the drive during an extensive field visit to Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab’s Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond on Friday said that the campaign marks a turning point in the state’s environmental and infrastructural policies.
"What hadn’t been done in the last 15 to 25 years is now being achieved with speed, commitment, and vision,” he said while inspecting ongoing pond-cleaning works in villages such as Chanarathal Kalan, Khare, Dera Meer Miran, Ralli, Isherhel, and Chunni Kalan.
So far, 1,062 ponds have been successfully dewatered and nearly 400 have undergone desilting.
Sond emphasized that this is not just cosmetic cleaning; it’s an ecological restoration drive. Ponds, previously overrun with plastic waste and serving as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, are now being cleaned using scientific methods. Desilting and re-silting are tailored to each pond’s condition, restoring their ability to recharge groundwater and support village agriculture.
The Mann Government has made it clear that the success of this mission is a top priority. Senior officials across districts have been ordered to carry out field visits and maintain strict oversight. “Any negligence on the part of officials or staff will be viewed seriously,” Sond warned.
The initiative is also part of a broader rural upliftment plan, backed by a Rs 4,573-crore development package recently approved by the Punjab Government. It includes components such as the creation of decentralized sewage treatment systems based on the Thapar and Seechewal models. Treated pond water, if found to meet quality standards, will be utilized for agricultural purposes; otherwise, purification mechanisms will be deployed.
"Water samples are being tested, and our goal is to harness these restored ponds as assets for irrigation and environmental conservation,” the minister explained, underlining that improving groundwater recharge before the onset of the monsoon is another key objective.
Sond said that this initiative is not merely a clean-up drive but a transformative rural development programme aligned with the government’s vision of a “Rangla Punjab.” He added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other cabinet ministers are personally monitoring progress and ensuring villages are developed in a holistic manner—with clean water, green surroundings, and modern infrastructure.