In a landmark move under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has launched a large-scale initiative to clean nearly 15,000 village ponds across the state, an effort not undertaken in the past two to three decades. This was announced by Punjab’s Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, during his inspection of pond-cleaning projects in villages including Chanarathal Kalan, Khare, and Dera Meer Miran in the Sirhind block; Ralli in the Bassi Pathana block; and Isherhel and Chunni Kalan in the Khera block of Fatehgarh Sahib district.
The Minister highlighted that successive past governments had neglected village ponds for over 15-25 years. Many of them had become severely silted, leading to stagnant water, foul smells, and mosquito breeding, posing serious environmental and health concerns. Now, under the direction of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, this situation is being reversed.
He informed that work is already underway in several villages. 1062 ponds has already dewatered and nearly 400 ponds already desilted. Depending on the condition of the ponds, both desilting and re-silting are being carried out to restore their natural ecosystem.
He further said that Senior officials have been instructed to prioritize field visits and actively monitor the progress of ponds cleaning. He said that Negligence from any officer or employee in this mission will not be tolerated.
Tarunpreet Singh Sond also noted that this initiative is part of a broader rural development plan, with the Punjab Government recently approving a development package worth Rs. 4,573 crore for villages. The government’s priority is to upgrade basic infrastructure in rural areas including pond restoration, regular maintenance, cleaning and the development of sports grounds.
Under the Thapar/Seechewal models, the government is also working to establish decentralized sewage treatment systems in villages. Water samples from these ponds are being tested, and if found to meet quality standards, the water will be repurposed for agricultural irrigation. Otherwise, water purification projects will be implemented before use.
The Minister emphasized that the government is committed to improving groundwater levels by clearing silt and draining contaminated water from ponds before the monsoon season. This will aid in recharging groundwater and help mitigate the state's depleting water table.
He concluded by saying that under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and with the guidance of former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the mission to build a prosperous “Rangla Punjab” is progressing swiftly. Both the CM and cabinet ministers are personally monitoring the holistic development of Punjab’s villages.
Local MLAs from Fatehgarh Sahib, Lakhbir Singh Rai, and from Bassi Pathana, Rupinder Singh Happy, along with senior officials from various departments, were also present during the visit. Prior to the inspections, the dignitaries paid their respects at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib.