Preventing flood: Easygoing Punjab caught napping

In most districts of the state,the review of flood sites,which need repair,has been under way for the past couple of days while such inspections should have been completed by the month of May,said a senior official of the drainage department in Doaba region. “Why has the work started so late when it is mandatory,” asked another official. “If heavy rains hit the state before the cleaning work is completed then the choked drains can again play havoc,” he added.

Another senior official said the drainage department only takes action if there is heavy rain and added that a review of the last 20 year records will reveal the poor amount of work done. “ This work must be completed before the end of June month as from July 1 the monsoons begins officially in the state but the Punjab drainage department waits for monsoons to start to begin the preventive work,” he said.

The blocked drains,which could not manage even above average rainfall,left acres of agricultural land inundated last year resulting in severe damage to crops. There are 1,662 kilometres of drains which need cleaning and 48 vulnerable flood sites which require repair in the state this year. The government had released Rs 76 crores,including Rs 40 crores just to clean the drains this year.

When contacted Vinod Chaudhary Chief Engineer Drainage Punjab,said the cleaning of drains and repairing flood sites had already begun in earnest throughout the state and will be completed by July 15. On being asked as to why the work was not completed before the onset of the rainy season,he said the work had started well on time and Rs 76 crores will be spent on it.