In a bid for the 100% completion of Rs. 2332 crore ongoing prestigious Rivers Cleaning Project by the end of December 2013, the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked the concerned senior officers of the state government to accelerate the pace of work. A direction to this effect was given by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a high level review meet on Rivers Cleaning Project here today at his residence. Taking part in the deliberations, Badal said that under this project the state government had already spent Rs 650 crore on the works of laying water supply lines, sewerage and setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in 45 cities and towns around the banks of Satluj, Beas and Ghaggar rivers, which were polluting these rivers. He said that at present about 50% to 70% work of Water supply & Sewerage had been completed, besides 25% that of STPs. He further directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board to keep regular check over the quality of treated water of already installed 15 STPs in 11 cities to insure its proper usage for irrigation purpose. Badal also directed the Soil and Water Conservation Department to complete the work of laying underground irrigation pipes in a time bound manner. The Chief Minister asked Principal Secretary Local government Suresh Kumar to depute a team of senior officers along with MLA from Jalandhar Cantt., Pargat Singh to study the feasibilities of replacing old Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at Jalandhar with new proven technology that required less land, in coloration with some foreign company expert in this field. He further said that later same technology would also be adopted for Ludhaina city. On the occasion MD Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Satpal Angurala said that the work under this project was in full swing and Board was fully committed to complete the task in 18 towns around River Sutlej, 11 around River Beas and 16 around River Ghaggar by 31st December 2013. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included MLA from Jalandhar Cantt., Pargat Singh, Principal Secretary Local Government Suresh Kumar, Principal secretary Industries AR Talwar, Principal Secretary Finance & Planning Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary Science & Technology Karan A. Singh, CA GAMADA Sarabjit Singh, Secretary Punjab State Marketing Board, Mohinder Singh Kainth, Chairman PPCB Ravinder Singh, Member Secretary PPCB Babu Ram, MD Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Satpal Angurala, Chief Engineer Canals AS Dullat, Chief Engineer Drainage Vinodh Chaudhary and Chief Conservator, Soil and Water Conservation Anil Kumar Sondhi besides the senior officers of the state administration.