While reviewing the relief works at heavy rainfall hit areas in Patiala and Sangrur districts, Punjab Water Resources Minister Mr. Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria today said that Congress government would soon end the flood menace of the Ghaggar River, which created havoc in some villages of these two districts during rainy season. On the concluding day of his two-day visit to Punjab, Mr. Sarkaria today visited Phulad and Khanauri in Sangrur district and Badshahpur and Sirkapra villages in Patiala district and also reviewed the ongoing relief works.Taking stock of the situation, the Minister said that previous government had not took any firm step to resolve the flood problem of Ghaggar, which causes the damage in Patiala and Sangrur districts. However, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab government is making sincere and concrete efforts to resolve it permanently.This year a flood control meeting was held in January, which was the earlier called during the rainy season.
This time damage is less than previous years despite the record rainfall during July 15 to 17 in the state as all the arrangements were made in time, the Minister added.Notably, after visiting the Sutlej and Beas rivers, yesterday the Minister had also inspected the drains passing through Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Bathinda districts.Instructing the officials not to leave any stone unturned in relief work, Mr Sarkaria said that the Punjab government was fully committed to ensure the safety of life and properties of the people of state. He said that a special Girdawari is being conducted to assess crop damage due to torrential rain and according to the rules, the victims would be compensated soon. He was accompanied by Chief Engineer Canals Mr. Jagmohan Singh Mann, Chief Engineer Drainage Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, concerned SEs and other officials of the Water Resources Department.