Patiala DC reviews restoration work at Rajindra Lake

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr Preeti Yadav, Municipal Commissioner Paramvir Singh and officials from the Public Works, Drainage, Fisheries, and other departments, visited Rajindra Lake today to review the preparations for resuming the long-pending restoration work.

The inspection comes as part of the coordinated efforts between departments to renovate Rajindra Lake, Badi Nadi, Chhoti Nadi, and various village ponds. A majority of the water bodies are grappling with the problem of dumping of garbage and waste.

Appealing to the public, Yadav urged residents not to dump garbage into canals, rivers, or drains, reiterating that “our water sources are our future, and protecting them is our shared responsibility.”

The DC informed that the project has been approved by the Punjab Government, and tenders for restoring the Rajindra Tank will be floated this week. A multi-departmental expert committee, led by the Superintending Engineer of the Municipal Corporation, has been constituted to ensure permanent water filling and sustainable rejuvenation of the lake.

Yadav further stated that the cleaning and lining work of Badi Nadi and Chhoti Nadi is in its final stages, pending final clearance from the Central Government’s Forest and Wildlife Department. Once the NoC is received, the remaining work in the Bir area will commence without delay.

She also highlighted ongoing efforts under MGNREGA to de-silt and de-water 1,204 village ponds across the district.

Drainage department officials shared that a new three-foot-wide concrete pipeline is being installed from Maharani Club to channel water from the Bhakra Canal into Rajindra Lake, replacing the old, damaged pipe system. Plans also include desilting the lakebed, building walking paths, and installing permanent fountains to ensure water remains clean and free from weeds.