Punjab Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today reviewed the arrangements and preparations made by the District Administration Gurdaspur for the prevention of the flood protection here at the Panchayat Bhawan. The minister directed the officials to complete the flood prevention arrangements in time to prevent possible floods due to rains in the region.
Mr. Dhaliwal said that all officers and employees should work at ground zero to ensure the pace of work. He asked the Drains department, Public Works department, Punjab Mandi Board, Panchayat department and Punjab Police to form joint action teams to work in coordination.
He said that these teams will ensure that all bridges and culverts of the drains are clean and there should be no blockage in the drains falling under their respective areas. He also asked the officials of Public Works Department and Mandi Board to prepare a report regarding the arrangements to be made for drainage of water through the bridges falling on the GT Road and other link roads.
The Cabinet Minister directed the Health Department to make advance arrangements for the medical teams and medicines to meet challenges during any possible flood like situation. He said that adequate number of boats, food packs, drinking water should be arranged by the district administration well in advance
Mr. Dhaliwal said that special efforts should also be made to protect the low-lying areas of the cities from rainwater flooding. He said that the sewage system of the cities should be cleaned and it should be ensured that the drains passing through the cities are completely clean so that their water does not cause flooding in the cities.
Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal told the officials that the district administration should raise the demand for whatever help it needs from the government for flood prevention arrangements so that it can be completed in time. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan, the Punjab government is fully capable and ready to deal with the floods, and compensation will also be delivered by the government for the people who have suffered losses due to the flood.
He also appealed to the residents of the state to strictly follow the instructions issued by the government and administration. During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal said that the district administration is ready to deal with any possible threat of floods.
He said that different teams have been formed by the district administration. He said that the district administration has been following full vigilance regarding the floods and advance information about the release of water in the rivers is being conveyed to the district residents. He said that a special flood control room has been established at Gurdaspur by the district administration which is working day and night.
During the meeting Batala MLA Mr. Amansher Singh Sheri Kalsi, S.S.P. Gurdaspur Mr. Harish Dayma, S.S.P. Batala Ashwani Gotyal, Chairman of Punjab Health Systems Corporation Mr. Raman Bahl, Chairman PANSP Mr. Balbir Singh Pannu, Chairman Improvement Trust Gurdaspur Mr. Rajeev Sharman, Chairman Improvement Trust Batala Mr. Naresh Goyal and district officers of various departments were present.