Mohali administration ramps up checks on construction in notified area near drains

The administration has directed the urban local bodies to keep a check on illegal construction alongside the notified drains, choes and nullahs in the district.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Aashika Jain while reviewing the District Survey Report, de-silting and illegal construction alongside notified drains/ choes/ nullahs with Chief Engineer, Drainage-cum-Mining and Geology, Harinderpal Singh Bedi and other officials also flagged the issue of illegal constructions in Zirakpur area alongside Singh Nala Choe, Sukhna Choe, Dhakoli Choe, Baltana Choe and Sukhna Creek.

Jain has also asked the Municipal Council EO Ashok Kumar Patharia to bring an end to the illegal construction and issue show cause notices to the civic body officials to check if any approvals were given in the areas.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Amit Gupta has been directed to head a committee based on Executive Engineers of various departments and visit the area and take further action.

The Drainage-cum-Mining and Geology officials have recommended the desilting of the downstream areas of the water bodies started from Dam areas to the district to make the flood-prone areas safe from the flash floods. “The desilting of Patiala Ki Rao, Jayanti Devi Ki Rao, Siswan River and Ghaggar River is a must, before the next rainy season to keep the flood-prone areas risk-free. Moreover, the desilting process will fetch revenue besides avoiding spillover,” they said.

Apart from that, a supplementary DSR is also in progress for the identification of new mining sites at Siswan and Sundran rivers, the Drainage-cum-Mining and Geology officers informed the DC.

Jain assured the mining officers that these sites would be demarcated in time to complete the DSR.

The DC was also apprised of the construction of 12 RCC new check dams in the areas of Siswan, Budhki and Jayanti Devi Ki Rao rivers to recharge the groundwater in the area.

Jain asked the Drainage-cum-Mining and Geology officers to get the work done on the weak and critical areas of the water resources in the district to avert any flood-like situation. The Chief Engineer directed his team to send the proposals as early as possible.

Mining officials demanded the enhancement of security at Interstate Mining Check Post Handesra by stationing PCR/Patrolling party van at night to ensure the fee of Interstate Mining Carriage (about Rs 3,000 per truck). The DC, in response, requested the district police to deploy additional personnel in the night to stop the mining mineral-carrying vehicles at the check-post.