Punjab Government Fully Prepared for Monsoon Flood Exigencies

Punjab Government Fully Prepared for Monsoon Flood Exigencies
Chief Secretary Anurag Verma Urges Vigilance and Strategic Planning

Chandigarh, June 7: In response to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s directives, Punjab’s Chief Secretary Anurag Verma chaired a critical meeting with Deputy Commissioners and senior departmental officers to assess flood preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season. Emphasizing the government’s readiness, Verma highlighted that numerous flood mitigation projects are underway, slated for completion before the monsoon’s onset. The Water Resources Department is executing 65 projects worth Rs 75 crore through the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF), alongside 716 projects under MGNREGA, costing approximately Rs 150 crore, and 129 additional projects using departmental resources, totaling Rs 15 crore. An extra 327 priority projects, valued at Rs 81 crore, will be funded by the state, culminating in 1,237 initiatives amounting to Rs 321 crore for 2024-25. Verma instructed Deputy Commissioners to maintain strategic stocks of earth-filled EC bags, conduct site inspections, and review critical areas weekly. New initiatives include planting 2,50,000 bamboo plants along drain banks to act as natural barriers and constructing 432 check dams for flood mitigation. The Chief Secretary also directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Department of Building and Roads, and the Mandi Board to clear potential water flow obstructions, with NHAI committed to drain cleaning pre-monsoon. This comprehensive strategy aims to mitigate flood risks and ensure seamless water management. The meeting saw participation from key officials, including Principal Secretary Finance Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Principal Secretary Water Resources Krishan Kumar, Secretary Priyank Bharti, Secretary Revenue Arshdeep Singh Thind, Secretary Finance Diprava Lakra, Secretary Rural Development and Panchayat Amit Kumar, Secretary Agriculture Ajit Joshi, and NHAI representatives.

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