Monsoon at peak, drains yet to be cleaned in Muktsar

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 2

Monsoon is at its peak nowadays but a number of drains in Muktsar district are yet to be cleaned. This district in south-western Punjab suffers huge losses during rains every year.

Though the state government every year promises to find out some permanent solution to this perennial problem and spends large amounts of money, yet all the things done so far haven’t brought the desired results.

This year too, the department had sanctioned funds for the cleaning of drains in the district, but the farmers and PPP leaders claimed that the situation was similar to last year.

Jagjit Singh ‘Honey Fattanwala’, senior vice-president of PPP, said, “I had yesterday visited a number of villages in Muktsar sub-division, but was surprised to see that a number of drains were yet to be cleaned. The Bura Gujjar drain, which passes through Chauntra and Sangrana villages, is presenting a picture of neglect. The drain is almost lying choked with huge wild growth. If the authorities concerned don’t pay any attention to this drain, the villages nearby will suffer huge damage when it rains.” Tarsem Singh Sangrana, a farmer, said, “Rainfall has so far been normal, but if it rains continuously for 2-3 days, this drain will overflow and inundate about 10 villages.”

Chauntra village had suffered badly during rains in 2013. This village was inundated. Later, the CM had held a sangat darshan in the village and assured the residents of a permanent solution to the problem.

Officials in the drainage wing of the Irrigation Department claimed that the cleaning work was almost complete. “The cleaning work is almost complete. If some work is pending anywhere, it will be done within a short period,” they said.