Govt launches scheme to link ponds to drains

Our Correspondent

Abohar, July 6

The Drainage Department has launched a scheme to connect ponds with nearby drains to prevent waterlogging in the rainy season. This had been a pending demand of the panchayats of Abohar, Fazilka and Muktsar segments.

Leader of Opposition Sunil Jakhar last month slammed the government for delaying the scheme. He had said that since most of the ponds had been encroached upon, villagers suffered heavy losses in the rains.

Vijay Laxmi Bhadoo, former president, BJP Mahila Morcha, inaugurated the work at Khuyiansarwer village on Abohar-Sriganganagar road today. Nearly 2.5 km long pipeline will be laid to connect the village pond with the Sayeedwala drain. She claimed Rs 37 lakh had been released for other development work in the village.

Gulshan Nagpal, Executive Engineer, Drainage Department, said ponds in Kalatibba, Kandhwala Amarkot, Dangarkhera, Kikkarkhera, Bahadurkhera, Dhabankokrian, Mehrana, Bahwalbassi and Mammukhera would be linked with the drains within the next two months. The state government had sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for the work in Fazilka and Muktsar district, he added.

Nagpal said tanks for water disposal could be built in villages situated far from the drains to solve the problem of waterlogging. He said the respective village panchayat would have to provide land for the tanks.