Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti to direct its Ministry for immediate revision of construction norms for water courses especially in Punjab, allocations of funds for Swan River and approval and sanction of funds for Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC).The Chief Minister called on Ms. Uma Bharti at her official residence here this morning and impressed upon her to allow Rs 35000 as construction cost for water courses instead of existing Rs 25000 per hectare, as the average discharge in Punjab was 2.5 cusecs while it was only one cusec in rest of country.Raising another issue, the Chief Minister urged Ms. Uma Bharti to immediately sanction and release funds to the tune of Rs 209 crore for the canalization of 17 kilometres Swan river in Punjab’s territory to save the people and their property from fury of floods. He apprised the Union Minister that Himachal Pradesh had already started the work of canalizing 55 kilometre within its jurisdiction.
On the issue of UBDC, the Chief Minister requested Ms. Uma Bharti to immediately approve the rejuvenation and rehabilitation of this canal project, which was the lifeline of Majha region in the state and was in dilapidated condition due to lack of proper maintenance since long, which has now adversely impacted its water carrying capacity. He also sought immediate sanction and release of funds so as to enable the state irrigation department to take up this project on priority without any further delay.The Union Minister assured Mr. Badal that she would soon convene a special meeting of all the officers concerned with these issues so that these could be addressed shortly. She also asked the Chief Minister to send a team of officers from state irrigation department led by its Secretary for prompt solution of these issues. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema and Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan Mr. K Sivaprasad.