Urging the Union Minister for Water Resources (MoWR) Ms. Uma Bharti, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today sought early clearance of various irrigation projects pending with the Ministry at different stages worth Rs. 5236.71 crore including the re-lining of Rajasthan and Sirhind feeders at a cost of Rs. 2125.69 crore.Mr. Badal called on the Union Water Resources Minister here in her office at Shram Shakti Bhawan on Monday Morning.The Chief Minister also impressed upon Ms. Uma Bharti to immediately sanction and release Rs. 1375 Cr. for the project of rehabilitation, renovation and modernization of various distributaries along with allied works in Punjab (UBDC) system in border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur.
Similarly, Mr. Badal also sought special funds to the tune of Rs. 918.25 Cr. for the project of renovation and modernization of canals being fed from River Satluj, which had already been sanctioned by the MoWR on November 13, 2015.Pleading for the expeditious clearance of various irrigation projects awaiting Ministry’s nod, Mr. Badal also posed a project of Swan River Flood Management worth Rs. 284.98 crore besides seeking funds to the tune of Rs. 161.04 crore for the execution of flood protection project under river management activities and water related to border areas. He also sought approval for the channelization of River Ghaggar by the Ghaggar Standing Committee involving a cost of Rs. 135.63 crore.
Likewise, the Chief Minister also asked the Ministry to immediately release funds to the tune of Rs. 46.12 crore for carrying out flood protection works along River Beas under Flood Management Project. He also impressed upon Ms. Uma Bharti to give her nod to the project of channelization of Sakki/Kiran Nallah involving a cost of Rs. 190 crore so as to save the life and property of the people residing in border areas from the havoc caused during the floods in the rainy season.Responding positively to the issues raised by Mr. Badal in the meeting, Union Water Resources Minister assured that she would get the entire issues thoroughly examined by her Ministry before taking a final decision. She assured Mr. Badal that the requisite funds demanded by the state government under various projects and proposals pending with Ministry would be released at the earliest.The Chief Minister was accompanied by Secretary Irrigation Mr. KS Pannu. Secretary and Special Secretary, Water Resources, GoI Mr. Sashi Sekhar and Dr. Amarjit Singh respectively also attended the meeting.