Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, June 11 -
Haryana CM Nayab Singh has instructed officials to complete flood prevention preparations by June 30, before the onset of monsoon season. Last year, Ambala and Kurukshetra districts suffered significant flood damage. He also emphasized to ensure the completion of works of short-term schemes.
The CM was presiding over a meeting of Irrigation and Water Resources Department on flood regarding preparations for flood prevention here today. Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Abhe Singh Yadav was also present in the meeting.
The CM said that the work of soil filling should be started immediately to strengthen the embankments of canals and drains. With paddy plantation scheduled to begin after June 15, waterlogged fields pose challenges for soil lifting. In addition, landowners fields also does not remain vacant.
The CM issued a stern warning to officials, indicating that those responsible for any repeat of last year's flood incidents will face consequences. The department should hire as many JCBs as necessary to remove the silt from the canal.He said that the villages of Harda-Hardi, Shergarh, Chandpura, Shahpur, Hemamajra, Rampur Sassedi of Ambala, Jhaansa, Jalbehra of Kurukshetra and Guhla Cheeka of Kaithal were badly affected. This time, if floods happen due to negligence in the preparations being done before the monsoon, then strict action will be taken against those responsible.
During the meeting, it was informed that 320 flood-prone hotspots had been identified, and short-term schemes had been devised accordingly. To date, 44 schemes have been successfully completed, with work ongoing on 179 schemes.
Expressing urgency, the CM said that due to time constraints, the remaining work must be expedited by the department with utmost urgency. He directed officials to establish a portal for uploading daily reports on all flood-related tasks being undertaken before the monsoon. A video should be made by taking the village sarpanch along and uploaded on this portal which he would personally oversee.
The CM said that tomorrow, Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Abhe Singh Yadav, Commissioner and Secretary of the Department Pankaj Agarwal, and Advisor to the CM Bharat Bhushan Bharti will visit flood-prone areas in Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Kaithal districts to assess the situation and compile a report. He gave clear instructions that flood prevention measures should be visibly implemented on the ground and he himself would personally review the preparations on June 13.