Punjab Government have devised a comprehensive plan for overall moderisation of village ponds in the state. Under this project water treatment plants would be installed in three villages. In the first phase of this project three villages would be selected in each block of the districts under pilot project for installation of water treatment plants and treated water would be used for irrigation.Briefing media persons here today at Vikas Bhawan Mohali Mr. Surjit Singh Rakhra Rural Development & Panchayat Minister, Punjab said that this project has been conceived by the state government to give a ultra modern look to the village ponds. Earlier some villages have taken such initiative at their own level.Earlier in the meeting with the senior officials of the department and DDPO's Mr. Rakhra set troth the example of Model villages instructed the DDPO's to select three villages per block in their districts and start this work as pilot project in these villages. He said that in the first phase of this project about water in 500 villages would be treated by installing treatment plants for use of irrigation purposes.
Rakhra also advised that trees be planted around the ponds and parks should be developed to give a ambience around such places. He also added that these projects should be completed in time bound manner and no laxity in this work would be tolerated at any level. He also exhorted officials to make efforts to end groupism in villages for the overall development.In the Meeting Minister asked officials to bring more transparency in the auction process of village lands by encouraging them for e-auction and efforts should be made to make panchayts self reliant by increasing their income.Minister also instructed DDPO's to ensure leveling of Shamlat lands with in 15 days and tubewell connections should also be ensured. 'Audit of accounts of all panchayats should be done from CA or firm and no irregularity would be tolerated' said Rakhra.Others prominent present in meeting included Mr. Mandeep Singh Sandhu Financial Commissioner, Mr. Jaspal Singh Deputy Director, Mr. Shivdev Singh Dandiwal, pisional Deputy Directors and DDPo's of all the districts.