Demand raised by the CM in a meeting with Planning Commission delegation
Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, on Tuesday demanded a special Central assistance for tackling the issue of water logging in the state. Disclosing this on Tuesday, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said Badal raised the demand while presiding over a meeting with a high-level team of the Planning Commission led by its member Mihir Shah.
Taking part in the deliberations, Badal, according to the official, asked the Planning Commission team to include a concrete and time-bound action programme for implementation of effective water management system in Punjab to resolve issues like water logging, depletion of ground water level and elimination of solid harmful metals like uranium from water.
Mihir Shah reportedly said he and his team members fully agreed to the alarming situation of water logging in the state, and, after their visit to the affected areas, they have realised the situation was far more grave than they expected. He assured the team in its recommendations for the 12th five year plan would recommend a comprehensive plan to sort out issues related to water management in the state on short, medium and long-term basis. In the next five year plan, efforts would be made for mapping the aquifer in the country to improve quality as well as quantity of ground water. He also informed that to tackle the saline water issue, the Centre might provide financial assistance to the farmers for fishery. Shah assured the CM he would recommend immediate release of Central assistance for the lining of Rajasthan and Sirhind canals.