Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today chaired a high-level review meeting at the Head Office of the Water Resources Department to assess the State's flood preparedness and monsoon management.
Reaffirming the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government's commitment to protecting the people of Punjab from any flood-related eventuality during the monsoon season, the Cabinet Minister assured that the Government has put in place a robust monitoring and response mechanism to ensure the safety of human lives, agricultural land and public infrastructure across the State.
Having recently undertaken extensive visits to various flood protection sites where works were either in progress or had been completed, the Cabinet Minister reviewed the ground situation and assessed the preparedness of the Department in detail.
During the high level meeting, the Cabinet Minister undertook a detailed review of flood protection and drainage management works being carried out across Punjab, including drain cleaning, boulder stone and hybrid protection works, raising and strengthening of embankments, operation of flood control gates and other flood mitigation measures at vulnerable locations.
Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal directed officers to keep all critical flood-prone sites under constant surveillance and ensure continuous monitoring of rivers, drains, embankments and flood protection structures. He also instructed officers to take immediate corrective measures wherever any vulnerability is noticed so that people do not face inconvenience during the monsoon.
Reviewing the progress of desilting works across the State, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal assessed works being executed under various implementation models, including tender-based projects, volume-sharing arrangements, sites conveyed to the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) for approval and other identified critical locations.
He directed officers to ensure timely completion of all desilting works ahead of the peak monsoon period to facilitate smooth drainage and prevent waterlogging during heavy rainfall.The officials informed the Cabinet Minister that flood protection works include 101 boulder and hybrid protection works, 17 embankment raising works, 22 embankment strengthening works, 188 drain cleaning works and five flood control gate operation works involving an overall expenditure of around Rs.414.75 crore.
Directing all field officers to remain on high alert throughout the monsoon season, the Cabinet Minister instructed them to maintain round-the-clock vigil at flood-sensitive locations and ensure swift response to every emergency. He stressed that all remaining works must be completed within the stipulated timelines while maintaining the highest quality standards so that adequate flood protection measures are in place to safeguard the people of Punjab.
The Water Resources Minister reiterated that state government is fully geared up to tackle any flood-related situation through timely execution of flood protection works, continuous field monitoring and close coordination with all concerned departments and agencies to ensure public safety and minimise the impact of floods.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Principal Secretary Sh. Krishan Kumar, Chief Engineer (Drainage) Sh. Hardeep Singh Mendiratta and senior officers of the Department.