Chandigarh, Apr 17 (PTI) The Punjab Cabinet on Friday cleared a citizen-focused policy allowing landowners to undertake desilting of rivers, ‘choes’ (seasonal streams) and drains at their own cost, with the right to use the excavated material free of charge.
An official statement issued here following the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the move is aimed at strengthening flood preparedness ahead of monsoon, while also improving flow across critical river stretches.
“The cabinet has approved a policy for permitting concerned landowners to undertake desilting of rivers, choes, and drains including river Sutlej, Beas and Siswan at their own cost, and to utilise the excavated material free of cost for their own use,” the statement read.
The initiative will facilitate expeditious desilting of critical reaches, enhance the carrying capacity of rivers and choes, and significantly reduce the risk of floods, thereby safeguarding public and private property, it added.
The Punjab government has identified nine critical sites where desilting is required to ensure smooth flow of water in view of the upcoming monsoon season.
Non-execution of desilting at these sites could lead to accumulation of silt, reduced carrying capacity of water streams and increased flood risk during the monsoon, besides continued non-utilisation of excavated material, the statement said.
To ensure timely desilting ahead of the monsoon and to address non-responsive sites, the cabinet decided to permit landowners to undertake desilting at their own cost, allowing free utilisation of excavated material to respective landowners, it added. PTI SUN ARB ARB
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