Minister reviews flood protection works on 2-day Doaba tour

Punjab Water Resources, Mines and Geology and Land & Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Monday commenced a two-day tour of the Doaba region as a part of statewide visits to assess the status of ongoing flood protection works being undertaken along rivers and other vulnerable locations.

As part of the tour, the Cabinet Minister accompanied by MLA, Balachaur, Santosh Kataria visited Banga Bait and Khoja Bait villages along the Sutlej in Balachaur and inspected flood protection works executed at a cost of Rs 2.30 crore. This project involved the construction of a 910-foot-long flood protection revetment and eight studs on the bundh to prevent riverbank erosion and strengthen the embankment.

Goyal said the government has spent over Rs 450 crore on flood protection measures across the state, the highest-ever investment in strengthening river embankments and safeguarding people from flood disasters.

The minister further stated that the flood protection works include 101 boulder and hybrid protection works, 17 embankment raising works, 22 embankment strengthening works, 188 drain cleaning works and five flood control gate operation works involving an overall expenditure of around Rs 450 crore.

Expressing satisfaction over the quality of this project, he said this project at Banga Bait and Khoja Bait will provide protection to around 2,500 residents and nearly 10,000 acres of fertile agricultural land from floods and river erosion.

Goyal said a special committee had identified all vulnerable points along rivers across Punjab based on previous floods, almost all of which have been strengthened on a war footing.

He directed officials to ensure strict monitoring of flood protection works and asserted that there is no shortage of funds for safeguarding lives, property and agricultural land from flood-related disasters.