Drainage cleanliness works to be completed before monsoon: Goyal

Punjab Mines and Geology and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Sunday said that cleanliness works worth Rs 26 crore have been initiated in the Jalandhar circle, which would be completed before the onset of the monsoon. The Cabinet Minister asked officials to accord top priority to these projects.

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While presiding over a review meeting of the cleanliness projects in districts falling under Jalandhar circle, including Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, the Cabinet Minister said about 47 drain cleanliness projects in Jalandhar circle are underway and the cleanliness of drains will ensure unhindered flow of water.

Reaffirming zero-tolerance policy towards illegal mining, Goyal asked for strict monitoring and enforcement of regulations across the state. "No laxity will be tolerated at any cost," said the Cabinet Minister, while reviewing the operations of the Public Mining Sites and Commercial Mining sites in the Jalandhar circle.

He directed the officials to enforce stringent adherence to mining rules at the authorised locations. He stressed that mining activities must not compromise public convenience and ordered regular monitoring to ensure lawful extraction. He further said stern action will be taken if any case of illegal mining reported.

Goyal also asked to fix responsibility of officials who failed to curb illegal mining. To ensure strict adherence to the government's guidelines with respect to mining norms, the minister directed the officials to conduct regular inspections at mining sites in their respective jurisdictions.

Highlighting another priority, Goyal asked the officials to expedite the recovery from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for soil extraction.

He also stressed for recoveries from wilful defaulters, especially from crushers who have not submitted their dues to the government.

In another meeting with the officials of the Water Resources Department, the minister reviewed different works to ensure availability of drain water at tail ends through the Bist Doab Canal System. He said Rs 30 crore had been sent last year to build water courses under this mission. Likewise, water recharge projects, pipelines for irrigation purposes were also laid at various locations alongside the Bist Doab Canal, he added.

The minister also evaluated future projects to further strengthen the irrigation system to support farmers with canal water. Officials from Jalandhar, SBS Nagar, Hoshiarpur, and Kapurthala District attended the meeting