Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday set up a three-member inter-departmental committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, to review the progress of relining of 200 kms of the Rajasthan and Sirhind irrigation feeder canals located in Punjab.The decision was taken by the Chief Minister at a meeting to discuss the matter, according to an official spokesperson.Principal Secretary Irrigation and Principal Secretary Industries had been appointed members of the committee which will explore the way forward to complete, and, if need be, to re-tender, the Rs 2000 crore project without further delay.Captain Amarinder said this project was of immense importance to save the southern districts of state viz Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot from the menace of water logging due to excessive seepage of water from these both canals. The feeders are almost 100 kms each in length, starting from Faridkot up to the Rajasthan border.The Chief Minister asked the Principal Secretary Irrigation to get the project completed on priority as it was causing massive damage to the standing crops and immovable property on account of water-logging in the Malwa belt.
At the meeting, L&T officials, who presented a power point presentation to apprise the Chief Minister of the significant phases of the project, as well as the latest technology to be employed within the stipulated time of three years, came out with suggestions for early completion of the project. Acceding to their request, Captain Amarinder directed the Principal Secretary Irrigation to ensure un-interrupted supply of sand gravel and other material required for the relining of the canals and said a captive quarry should be earmarked to complete the project in time.The meeting was attended, among others, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Raveen Thukral, Chief Principal Secretary to CM Suresh Kumar and Special Principal Secretary to CM Gurkirat Kirpal Singh.The L & T delegation was represented by vice-president K Masilamani, Senior Deputy General Manager and Segment Head S Dakshinamuthy and Business Development Manager N Grover.