Punjab would soon rejuvenate village ponds across the state in around 12,673 villages, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said today.
He said the rejuvenation of ponds would be done on a priority basis to ensure pollution free environment, maintenance and creation of old and new green belts.
In the absence of any treatment plants, village ponds have become prominent disposal points for the waste water in the state, the minister said in an official release here.
Maluka said ponds are significant resource of water in village life and its repairing and cleaning have been "neglected" over a long period.
Now, the state government has decided to restore these ponds and increase their water holding capacity, he said.
Water overflowing from ponds is a common problem and a major reason behind this is silt and other inorganic materials which gradually settle down into the base of the ponds which reduce their water-holding capacity, he said.
Emphasising the importance of ponds in village economy, he termed ponds as easiest and cheapest source of recharging ground water.
