Taking in view the depleted underground water table in the Derabassi subdivision, eight new ponds for recharging purposes will be prepared expanding over 20 acres each, said the Deputy Commissioner, Mrs Aashika Jain, today.
Reviewing the progress of activities undertaken by the Water Resources Department (Drainage-cum-Mining and Geology Division SAS Nagar) at District Administrative Complex, SAS Nagar, Mohali on Wednesday, she directed the department officials to expedite the process of digging ponds in the already identified area in the Derabassi in Sarangpur, Handesra and Sarangpur ( both along near Tangri Nadi), Antala Drain, Rjapur Khelan, Bahora along Ghaggar river, Bijanpur, Rani Majra etc.
She said these rcaharge-cum-collection ponds will be prepared by constructing check dams to stop the spillage of the flood water that would help recharge as well as save the land from flooding. Besides, to make the choes and drains free of the disposal of various liquid waste being poured in, the concerned departments have been asked to plug the leakage/pouring in within the stipulated time limit.
About 46 such points have been identified in the district by the PPCB and Drainage Departments and notices have already been served upon the departments to take action on priority and submit the report.
Similarly, to identify the drains falling in private land, as many as 21 such drains have been notified whereas the rest of the 21 will be notified in the coming days to ensure the free flow of the natural course of rainy water.
Taking stock of the flood protection works done in the district, Deputy Commissioner Jain said that a total of 36 strengthening works across the choes, creeks, drains and Ghaggar River, Jhirmal Nadi, Tangri Nadi, Patiala Ki Rao, Jayanti Devi Ko Rao etc have been completed at an approximate cost of Rs 627.24 lakh under non-plan, state disaster management fund and MGNREGA, in the district to protect the fields and population from flood water.
The Officers who attended the meeting included ADC (G) Viraj S Tidke, SDM Amit Gupta, DRO Aman Chawla, District Drainage-cum-Mining and Geology Officer Gurtej Singh Tehsildar Arjun Singh Grewal.