The Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today reviewed the flood protection measures in the state and has directed the entire state machinery to make all the necessary arrangements well in-advance besides updating all the equipment and other technical support to tackle any kind of emergency during the coming monsoon season.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office informed that Mr. Badal was presiding over a high level meeting with the top-bras of the state administration and the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of various districts here at the Punjab Bhawan last evening.Mr. Badal directed the Finance Department to release Rs. 56 crores to the Irrigation department for making necessary flood protection arrangements in the state. He also directed the Principal Secretary Irrigation to fix the priorities of different works as per their requirements. Directing all the DCs the Chief Minister asked them to keep a close tab on the critical points in their respective jurisdictions to fight out any sort of eventuality arising on account of heavy rain during the forthcoming Monsoon besides, establishing a proper co-ordination with the Irrigation department and all other concerned sectors.
Regarding the on going flood protection works, Mr. Badal asked the state Principal Secretary Irrigation to regularly monitor these works and added that not a single life should be lost and damage to the property if any should be effectively controlled. The Chief Minister also advised the Deputy Commissioners to personally visit the vulnerable spots within their districts to review the on going flood control works. Taking Part in the deliberations the Irrigation Minister Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon raised the issue of irregular mining of Chakki River on Pathankot- Gurdaspur road that could cause a great threat to the life and property of nearby villagers.
Directing the concerned Deputy Commissioner to take necessary action in this regard, Mr. Badal expressed apprehension over this kind of situation at other places too, where people had illegally encroached the river land besides damaging the river banks. He advised the Principal Sectary Irrigation to prepare a long-term strategy for the permanent solution to the floods through conducting a study with an active involvement of some reputed private expert agency that could recommend necessary measures in terms of widening and strengthening of the banks of all the rivers at various points in the state.
In the meeting Mr. Badal also gave approval for purchasing four Hydraulic Machines at a cost of Rs. 22 crore as flood protection equipment and asked the officers to chalk out the modalities in this regard at the earliest. He also assured that state government would provide all the technical support as per the requirements of the field staff.It was also informed in the meeting that environment clearance to all the mines less than 5 hectares would be granted at the Deputy Commissioner’s level and formalities related to ‘Environment Plans’ of these mines would be completed by April 20 in the state.
Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting includes Irrigation Minister Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. NS Kang, Financial Commissioner Development Mr. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to CM Mr. SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Irrigation Mr. KBS Sidhu, Special Principal Secretary to CM Mr. KJS Cheema, Secretary Finance Mr. Jaspal Singh and Chief Engineer Drainage Mr. Vinod Chaudhary besides all the Deputy Commissioners and representatives of BBMB.