By IANS,
Chandigarh : In a bid to complete flood control projects ahead of the monsoon, the Punjab government has sanctioned Rs.122 crore for its drainage department, officials said Tuesday.
“A total of Rs.122 crore has been sanctioned for the drainage department so that it can complete its various projects of flood protection before the onset of monsoon. Out of Rs.122 crore, Rs.101.75 crore has been sanctioned through NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development),” said Punjab Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon.
“Our department is working day and night to complete the construction of 1198.05-km flood protection embankments, 3,800 river training works and 7,232.13-km drainage system to save life and property from the fury of floods,” the minister said.
Sekhon said that the state government sanctioned 19 projects under rural infrastructure and development fund of NABARD to save the southern districts of Punjab from floods. He said that work on 14 projects has already been completed and remaining five were in an advanced stage of completion.
The monsoon this year is likely to reach Punjab around June 17.
In June and July last year, floods hit various districts of Punjab and Haryana. At least 35 people were killed and crops on several lakh acres of land were destroyed.