Carry out desilting of drains, canals before arrival of monsoon, CM tells officials

Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini directed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure desilting of drains and canals in their areas and take concrete steps so that there is no waterlogging anywhere in the state during the upcoming monsoon season. The Chief Minister was chairing the 56th Meeting of Haryana State Drought Relief and Flood Control Board here today. Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Shruti Choudhry also remain present during the meeting. During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasised that the focus of the Flood Control Board should be on raising structures and setting up robust infrastructure in cities and villages which can stop the flow of water into houses and fields during the monsoon season.

Saini emphasised the construction of stone studs, stone steining, remodelling of drains, construction of permanent pump houses, laying of pipelines in low lying areas and out falling the flood water into drains across the state. He ordered the review of large number of stone studs constructed for flood control so that any non-functional studs can be timely repaired. He said an online portal must be created for this and the concerned Deputy Commissioners must carry out a survey of all the studs in their respective districts, and if any negligence is found, strict action should be taken against the erring contractor, including registration of FIR. The CM also ordered desilting of all large canals in the state and repair work of old canals. He also asked for a priority list of such projects and completion of all pending works at the earliest, adding that these cleanliness drives must be undertaken on a yearly basis. He also said that such works need to be carried out with equal focus on every region, so that equitable development can take place in the entire state.