With Punjab heading towards the monsoon season, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday ordered Deputy Commissioners to complete all flood protection works within deadline, warning officials of personal accountability for lapses. Chairing a high-level review meeting, he directed urgent desilting of drains and vulnerable points, fast-tracked anti-pollution measures, and pushed pending infrastructure projects as the state moves to prevent floods and strengthen water management before the rains arrive.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, accompanied by Rajya Sabha MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, batted for foolproof planning and execution of the master plan for carrying out flood protection works effectively across the state. He said, “The plan of drains and rivers should be prepared in sync with the engineers of the irrigation department to ensure their regular de-silting, cleaning, and strengthening of flood protection works.”
He emphasised, “This will be instrumental in saving people from the wrath of floods during the monsoon season, and every officer will be personally accountable for this work. The desilting of Gidderpindi Railway Bridge and other places prone to floods should be done at the earliest to avert any flood-like situation.”
On the cleaning of Buddha Nullah, the Punjab CM added, “The water of the sacred Buddha Nullah has been cleaned up to the starting point of Ludhiana city, and cleaning work beyond this point is ongoing. Cow dung waste from dairies into Buddha Nullah should be checked with a heavy hand. The Municipal Corporation must ensure proper lifting of cow dung from the dairies, and dairy owners should cooperate.”
Reviewing pending infrastructure works, he said, “The CBG plant at Hebowal should be made operational at the earliest. The proposal for allotting 2.5 acre land for the proposed CBG plant at Tajpur should be finalised at the earliest by the Municipal Corporation, PSIEC and PEDA within one week. Industrial effluents must be properly treated, and necessary action shall be taken by the Pollution Board in this regard. Accountability will be fixed in case of negligence leading to polluted water entering the drains across the state.”
On water flow and pollution control, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “The regulator at Simbli for releasing 200 cusecs of water into Chitti Bein should be made operational. The issue of culverts constructed on Jalandhar National Highway 44 that are obstructing water flow should be resolved at the earliest through technical correction. Likewise, 100 cusecs of water from Bist Doab Canal should be released to reduce pollution in Kala Sanghian Drain.” He added, “Stone lining work has been completed.”
The Punjab CM concluded by instructing, “Dairy waste into drains must be checked strictly, and strict enforcement is required for this purpose. The matter of the Dhussi Bundh Road Project (Satluj River) will be taken up with the Union Rural Development Minister. The project conceived at a cost of ₹117.75 crore will be accomplished with the help of NABARD support.”
Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “A special meeting was held today with the Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners of Jalandhar and Ludhiana, in the presence of Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, regarding the cleaning of Ludhiana’s Buddha Nallah, the Kala Sanghian Drain, and the Dhussi Bundh of the Sutlej.”
“Officials were directed to strengthen the weak embankments of the Sutlej and other seasonal rivers, and to ensure the immediate completion of the STP projects for Buddha Nallah. Significant improvements will be visible in the coming days. A government of the people stands firmly with the people,” the post concluded.
