Minister Baljit Kaur swings into action as Malout reels under waterlogging

Amid severe waterlogging in Malout town following recent rains, Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur has swung into action to monitor the situation and push officials into delivering results. She is MLA from Malout Assembly constituency.

For the past two days, the minister has been touring various parts of the town to take stock of the inundated areas. On the spot, she has been summoning officials, issuing directions, and making phone calls to senior officers in Chandigarh to ensure swift drainage of rainwater.

During her first visit on Sunday, the minister sought reports from the Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the Municipal Council. However, the two agencies blamed each other for the situation. As a result, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) on Monday issued show-cause notices to officials for shifting blame instead of working together.

Mangat Kumar, Executive Officer, Malout Municipal Council, said, “The operation and maintenance of the sewerage system come under the Sewerage Board. We can only provide them with machinery or funds.”

Meanwhile, Municipal Council president Shubhdeep Singh Bittu, who is also the district Congress unit president, distanced himself from the issue, saying the council had no role in drainage.

“We had prepared a detailed project report for a permanent solution to the waterlogging issue two years ago, but the state government has not approved it yet,” claimed Bittu.

The council has now installed gensets to speed up water-lifting pumps for drainage.

Rakesh Mohan Makkar, an engineer hired on contract by the Water Supply and Sewerage Board, said he had presented the facts to the minister.

“She has asked us and the Municipal Council to drain out the rainwater quickly and also work on a permanent solution,” Makkar added.