Haryana Accelerates Monsoon Preparedness: 78% Drain Cleaning Completed, Robust Flood Mitigation Measures Underway
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh–
In a high-level meeting held today, Haryana’s Financial Commissioner for Revenue and Disaster Management, Dr. Sumita Misra, reviewed the state’s preparedness ahead of the upcoming monsoon. Chairing the meeting with all Deputy Commissioners, Dr. Misra emphasized a proactive and strategic approach to flood mitigation, calling for quality site inspections, real-time monitoring, and swift execution of all preparedness measures.
Dr. Misra directed Deputy Commissioners to ensure comprehensive contingency planning, including ground-level mock drills. She instructed officers to map all pumping infrastructure and manpower, identify flood-prone hotspots, and designate responsible officers for each critical area. Attendance and deployment of pump operators and support staff are to be closely monitored, with special focus on preventing urban waterlogging.
Dr. Misra further directed the Deputy Commissioners to oversee the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) to ensure the impeccable cleanliness of stormwater drainage systems in both urban and rural areas under their purview. Dr. Misra underscored Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini's clear directive: there will be absolute zero tolerance for any complacency or neglect of duty concerning this vital responsibility.
It was informed during the meeting that Haryana has significantly ramped up drain desilting activities achieving around 78% clearance of the targeted 4,097.41 km drain network as of June 10, a notable rise from 19.20% recorded on May 27. Dr. Misra set a firm deadline of June 20, 2025, to achieve 100% drain clearance.
The review noted that 672 out of 868 drains have been desilted for FY 2025, through a coordinated effort involving departmental machinery, MGNREGA workers, and e-tendering processes. The Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC) reported 82.51% completion, while Bhakra Water Services (BWS) has achieved 76.62%.
The Irrigation & Water Resources Department showcased its preparedness, with a robust inventory of 553.22 km of HDPE pipelines and 2,401 pumps including diesel, electric, and VT mobile units ready for rapid deployment.
Dr. Misra stressed the importance of addressing district-specific bottlenecks promptly to ensure smooth execution. “Our foremost priority is the protection of communities and agricultural land from monsoon-related risks,” she said, urging optimal resource utilization and timely project completion.
The Commissioner & Secretary, Irrigation, Sh. Mohammed Shayin apprised the meeting of ongoing efforts to safeguard the state’s population and farmland. The department is currently executing 209 short-term flood protection projects valued at Rs. 282.95 crore, most of which are scheduled for completion by June 30, 2025.