Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought the personal intervention of Union Water Resources Minister Ms. Uma Bharti for instructing the officers of her Ministry to convene an early meeting of the Ghaggar Standing Committee, for clearing the second phase of Channelization of this river.In a letter written to Ms. Bharti, the Chief Minister apprised her that as per the approval granted by Ghaggar Standing Committee, first phase of channelization of Ghaggar River from Khanauri to Makror Sahib (22.45 Kms) was completed. However, he said that the second phase of the project from Makror Sahib to Karail was under consideration of Ghaggar Standing Committee, from the last five years. "As this river creates havoc during the rainy season so in the larger public interest you are kindly requested to instruct the officers of your Ministry to immediately convene an early meeting of the Ghaggar Standing Committee for clearing the second Phase" added Mr. Badal.
It may be recalled that River Ghaggar is a non-perennial inter-state river originating from Himachal Pradesh and terminating in Rajasthan after crossing Haryana and Punjab. Every year Punjab and Haryana witness floods during the heavy rains in the catchment of river Ghaggar and its tributaries. Owing to this reason, the Chief Minister had been pressing for the completion of work regarding the channelization of this river. Even Mr. Badal had flagged up this issue with the Union Minister Ms. Uma Bharti recently in a meeting held at her office in New Delhi, so that the people of area could be safeguarded from the scourge of floods. The Union Minister hds assured him that she would personally ensure that this work was completed expeditiously in the larger public interest.