Dhillon orders 24x7 surveillance of all canal and river embankments

Chandigarh, July 1, 2014: The Punjab Government today issued orders to increase the level of surveillance at all river and canal embankments during the monsoon season. Keeping in view the probability of floods in Punjab, Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon instructed all Chief Engineers of the department to depute SDOs and JEs at the sensitive and risk prone areas while Mates and Baildars would be deputed to guard river and canal embankments round the clock.

The Irrigation Minister said that to have a clear perspective on the probability of floods, the Punjab Government constituted a state level Flood Control Room, which would even work overnight in case of an emergency situation. In addition, district and sub divisional level Flood Control Rooms have also been activated.

Dhillon instructed the Chief Engineer (Drainage) to personally monitor flood control and prevention works underway in all districts and prepare a meticulous report on the advancement of these projects. Dhillon further said that along with the senior officials of the department, he would personally visit and monitor all drainage sites where flood mitigation have been in progress and if any laxity or negligence is found, stern disciplinary action would be taken against the erring officers. The Minister instructed the Chief Engineer to apprise him on daily basis of all the developments made in this regard.

Dhillon appealed to the public not to panic as the irrigation department is fully prepared with prevention, mitigation, preparedness and relief policies in place and in complete sync with the National Disaster Management Plan.