Find cost-effective ways to stop floods: Minister to engineers

With the state suffering from rising waters this year,Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon today urged engineers of various government departments to find cost effective ways to strengthen river beds and prevent floods. The minister was addressing engineers as part of the 44 th ‘Engineers Day’ celebrations. Sekhon,however,said the situation was under control. “Despite the rise in water levels in Bhakra and Pong,there is no need to panic,rivers have enough capacity to absorb the released water,” he said. While Sekhon hinted at finding effective ways for flood control, engineers stated that a number of projects suggested by them were gathering dust because of want of money. PWD Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa also appreciated the role of engineers in various development projects. Jail Minister Hira Singh Gabria also spoke on the occasion. Engineers from departments including Municipal Corporation,Punjab state power corporation limited,Public works department,sewerage board and many other Government departments participated in this function.

Junior engineers of the Power corporation,however,stayed away from the function as a mark of protest. They stated that their pending demands have not been met.

Visvesvaraya remembered

The Association of Civil Engineering students of the Guru Nanak Dev engineering college in association with ACC Limited,celebrated Engineer’s Day by commemorating the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna,Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya,in whose memory the day is celebrated. The function was presided over by Dr M S Saini,Director of the college.

Alarm bells ring as water levels rise

Ludhiana: RISING water levels in Bhakra has forced the drainage department to stay on high alert once again. The level today reached the 1680 feet mark against a capacity of 1686 feet. Normally the excess release of water starts at 1680 feet. Executive engineer drainage department,Gurdial Singh,however,said,“As of now water level in Ropar downstream is 31,000 cusecs and low flood situation comes at 50,000 cusecs. So we are still in a safe position,but we need to be alert because rains are continuing.” Staff have been deputed to weak points such as Kherabet,Madhepur and Mattewara apart from other areas of Dhussi Bundh. More than 200 villages fall along the Dhussi Bundh in Ludhiana.