CM – Haryana State Drought Relief & Flood Control Board – press note & Photos
In an effort to further strengthen flood control measures in the state, Haryana Government has granted in-principle approval for 604 new schemes. This initiative, with a total budget of Rs 1,205.89 crore, was approved during the 55th meeting of the Haryana State Drought Relief and Flood Control Board, convened under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal here on Monday.
The majority of these schemes primarily focus on protection of Abadi, protection of agriculture land, procurement of flood machinery, reclamation of agricultural land, conservation and reuse of water and renovation or reconstruction of structures for smooth flow of drains. Deputy Chief Minister, Sh. Dushyant Chautala and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh. J.P. Dalal also remained present in the meeting.
The new flood schemes approved included 77 for Yamunanagar, 42 for Sonipat, 67 for Jhajjar, 36 for Rohtak, 53 for Ambala, 43 for Kaithal, 31 for Kurukshetra, 16 for Hisar, 22 for Charkhi Dadri, 27 for Fatehabad, 20 for Karnal, 28 for Jind, 17 for Panipat, 15 for Bhiwani, 18 for Nuh, 5 each for Mahendergarh and Faridabad, 14 for Palwal, 42 for Panchkula, 10 for Sirsa and 3 each for Rewari and Gurugram.
Deputy Commissioners to gather dam construction requests from residents to tackle flood risks
During the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed all Deputy Commissioners, who participated in the meeting virtual, to collect requests from residents in their respective districts for the construction of dams to mitigate any flood risks. They were further directed to collect resolutions in this regard from Panchayats and transmit them to the Headquarter through the Divisional Commissioners.
Chief Minister proposes standardized desilting depths for canals or drains to strengthen flood control measures
Regarding the desilting of canals, rivers, or drains, the Chief Minister proposed the establishment of a set standard for the depth at which desilting should occur to remove sand. The responsibility for desilting would fall to the Irrigation department up to a specified depth, with the Mining department taking over if the silt level is below that point. In addition, he also suggested that the departments set a minimum water flow capacity in canals or drains to prevent flooding during the monsoon season. This approach aims to improve the management of silt and water flow in these water bodies.
The Chief Minister further instructed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure the expeditious implementation of all flood control schemes within a specified timeframe. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing water conservation and the reuse of rainwater. This approach not only addresses flood management but also contributes to groundwater recharge and the efficient utilization of water resources in arid regions, thereby promoting sustainable water management practices.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for proactive measures to prevent any adverse consequences, as floods can lead to significant loss of both lives and property. To achieve this objective, the meeting Haryana State Drought Relief and Flood Control Board now convene twice a year, ensuring that all flood-related initiatives are finalized well in advance. This meeting is being held three months earlier than the originally scheduled time, underscoring the government’s commitment to early preparation and disaster prevention, he added.
Advisor to the Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Sh. Devinder Singh provided an overview of the recent flood situation in the state. He said that as per report approximately 1.95 acres of land in 680 villages had been submerged by floodwaters. The department is diligently working towards identifying and implementing sustainable, long-lasting solutions to address this issue. To mitigate property and life losses, various schemes have been devised, primarily focusing on safeguarding residential areas.
Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Sh. Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sh. V Umashankar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr. Amit Agrawal, Chairperson Haryana Water Resources Authority, Smt. Keshni Anand Arora and various Administrative Secretaries also present in the meeting. The Deputy Commissioners of all the districts also joined the meeting virtually.
