To face potential flood-like situations during the upcoming monsoon season, Deputy Commissioner Shri Sandeep Rishi has instructed all district-level and lower-level officers not to leave their stations without written permission from him. Strict departmental action will be taken against officers who violate these instructions.
The Deputy Commissioner held a meeting with officers from various departments and directed them to complete tasks on time. The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Amit Bambi, Additional Deputy Commissioner (D) Sukhchain Singh Papra, all SDMs, and district heads of various departments.
The Deputy Commissioner said that according to the meteorological department, monsoon is likely to arrive in Punjab on July 1, and there is a possibility of more rainfall this year than in previous years. In such a situation, relief work will need to be done immediately if a flood occurs.
He directed the officers to work according to the District Disaster Management Plan if needed and to keep 50,000 sandbags ready in potential flood-affected areas. He also directed the officers to ensure the cleaning of the Ghaggar river, ponds, sewage, siphons, and drains before the monsoon season.
The Deputy Commissioner made it clear that if water stagnates in cities, the executive officers will be personally responsible. He also directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner (D) to ensure that MGNREGA works are sanctioned and started immediately.
The meeting was informed that the Punjab government has provided super suction and jetting machines for cleaning sewage and drains. The Deputy Commissioner directed the officers to use these machines effectively and to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent flooding.
The Executive Engineer of the Drainage Department, Gundeep Bansal, informed the meeting that the Ghaggar river has a capacity to carry 25,000 cusecs of water and that the bunds have been strengthened. The Deputy Commissioner expressed confidence that the measures taken will help to control the situation and prevent flooding.