Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Financial Commissioner, Revenue and Disaster Management, Dr. Sumita Misra, on Monday directed all Deputy Commissioners to urgently review 328 flood control schemes of Rs. 528 Cr priority works while prioritizing firstly protection of abadi deh, and secondly agricultural fields and to revert Headquarters in 3 days.
The directions were issued while she was chairing the meeting of the 55th Haryana State Technical Advisory Committee on Floods (HSTAC). Dr. Misra said these works must be completed before the onset of the next monsoon, and instructed district administrations to ensure strict monitoring of execution, quality control, and adherence to timelines at the field level.
Centralised Deployment of Dewatering Pumps
The Financial Commissioner also directed Deputy Commissioners to take inventory and ensure that all dewatering pumps are fully functional for deployment in a centralised and strategic manner so that adequate pumping capacity remains available in all vulnerable pockets of each district, ensuring comprehensive and timely response during heavy rainfall and water logging situations. DCs should have the inventory readily available of dewatering machinery well in advance.
While reviewing the progress of existing projects, the Committee was informed that 378 flood protection schemes amounting to Rs. 642 crores which have been completed during the current financial year. At present, 231 schemes are under execution, while 48 schemes are yet to commence.
Urban flood mitigation measures were also reviewed during the meeting. The Public Health Engineering Department informed that 30 storm water drainage projects with an estimated cost of Rs. 525.95 crore are currently under execution, while 23 projects were completed last year, aimed at addressing chronic waterlogging in urban areas. She further directed that the last year’s vulnerable points should be thoroughly reviewed.
For the next monsoon, the State has allocated Rs. 460 crore for flood-related works, including supplementary provisions. An expenditure of about Rs. 395 crore has already been incurred in the current year. Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to conduct regular field inspections, particularly of river protection and embankment works. FCR also reviewed the development of Haryana Integrated Flood Management and Information System (IFMIS) in the state and directed that it should be operationalised before the next board meeting.