Punjab launches Smart Village campaign to clean ponds

Chandigarh : The Punjab Government under the Smart Village campaign has started de-watering and de-silting of Ponds across the state.Disclosing this here today, the Rural Development Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said that this campaign has been launched to provide a fresh clean natural environment in the villages with directions to the departmental officials to complete this task before the monsoon season by 10th of June, 2021.Divulging further, the Minister said that last year also ahead of the monsoon season, work of cleaning 12,296 ponds was taken up; de-watering was done in 12,184 village ponds whereas de-silting was accomplished in 6,332 village ponds. “This year this work has been started in all the districts of the state and Rs. 90 crore for this scheme has been allocated for this campaign”, revealed Tript Bajwa.Pointing out further, Bajwa said that as per the Rural Development department, de-watering of 5724 ponds is required out of which work has started in 1646 while the same has been completed in respect of 746 ponds. Besides, de-silting is also required for 3847 ponds out of which work has commenced in 839 and completed with regard to 172 ponds.Stating that the this campaign has been the main source of income for the poor people of villages to meet their daily needs during the crisis period due to Covid-19 pandemic, the Minister further said that 3,38,123 mandays of employment have been provided under this campaign to the poor and needy people till date. The amount to the tune of Rs 8.58 Crore has been transferred into the accounts of the beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary cum Financial Commissioner Rural Development Mrs. Seema Jain briefed that the projects pertaining to cleaning of ponds is being taken up under the direct supervision of the officials of the head office of the department. “All district level officers are visiting the sites so that work should be completed on time”, added Seema jain.