Ahead of rains, 14K ponds to be cleaned in Punjab

Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, May 26

Under Mission Tandarust Punjab, the government is making all efforts to improve the hygiene level in villages by cleaning the village ponds before the onset of rains, so that these can be used as water recharging structures.

The campaign launched to clean all 14,500 ponds in the state’s villages by de-watering and de-silting them is going on at full swing and will be completed before June 10, said KS Pannu, Director, Mission Tandrust- cum-Secretary (Agriculture), during a visit to Jhampur, Bhaini Kalan, Hindupur and Isserhel villages of the district to take stock of the ongoing work of pond cleaning.

He said the cleaning of ponds would improve sanitation conditions in villages and mobilise the community for a common cause. The village labour, under MGNREGA, is also being gainfully employed to improve general hygiene. He said it is unfortunate that the village ponds, which used to be the centres of civilization, have turned into pits of filth.

Pannu also appreciated the efforts of Rural Development Department and exhorted them to ensure cleaning of all ponds and educating villagers to utilise these ponds to recharge rain water.