– Target set for pond cleaning before monsoon
Chandigarh, March 25:
Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, while responding to a question in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, stated that Punjab Govt. has targeted to clean the ponds in all villages of Punjab before the monsoon season. He emphasized that all ponds will be emptied before the monsoon, and machinery will be deployed wherever necessary for the cleaning process.
Replying to a query raised by MLA Hardeep Singh Dimpy Dhillon, Minister Sond further mentioned that de-silting and re-silting of ponds will be carried out wherever required. Additionally, efforts will be made to clean and shape the pond edges, enhancing their aesthetics by planting grass along the banks.
He informed the House that Gidderbaha Assembly Constituency has 147 ponds in 52 Gram Panchayats. Out of these ponds, 35 ponds of 25 Gram Panchayats have been cleaned during the year 2024-25 through the MGNREGA scheme and other Sources. He added that the special campaign of the cleaning of the remaining 112 ponds of 27 gram panchayats is planned to be done during the year 2025-26 by dovetailing fund under MGNREGA scheme, 15th FC and other funds available with GP’s/PS’s/Zp’s before monsoon season.
