Punjab local bodies minister Inderbir Singh Nijjar on Wednesday kick-started the work of cleaning the Sidhwan Canal from Bhai Randhir Singh (BRS) Nagar canal bridge.
The minister, who was on a visit to the city, also conducted a meeting with the municipal corporation (MC) officials to check the status of the ongoing developmental projects and asked them to find ways to ease traffic congestion in the city.
While inaugurating the cleaning project, Nijjar said officials have been asked to coordinate with traffic police and other stakeholders to find out a way so that the developmental works do not add to the woes of the city’s commuters. He said, once completed, the projects will provide huge respite for the city residents.
Nijjar also inaugurated the project to install chain-linked iron fencing along the 13-kms stretch running next to the canal within the city limits. Aimed at stopping the residents from dumping waste into the canal, the project is being taken up at a cost of ₹6.64 crore. The work to install the fencing will be completed in the next six months.
MC officials said the canal falls under the jurisdiction of the irrigation department and that the MC has taken up the task to clean the canal in coordination with them. Temporary ramps have been established at different points of the canal and the water body is being cleaned with the help of JCB machines and tippers.
Officials said the irrigation department has prepared a schedule to stop the flow of water in the canal for 21 days. The process to clean the stretch between Lohara bridge to Barewal canal bridge will be taken up during this period.
{{/usCountry}}Officials said the irrigation department has prepared a schedule to stop the flow of water in the canal for 21 days. The process to clean the stretch between Lohara bridge to Barewal canal bridge will be taken up during this period.
{{/usCountry}}If required, the irrigation department will also be asked to stop the flow of water for a longer period
Nijjar praised the administration’s efforts to take up the cleaning project and appealed to the public to support them in keeping the canal clean, encouraging them to not dump waste in the water bodies. The minister stated strict action would be taken against the violators.
The deteriorating state of the water body was first flagged by members of city-based civil society group Public Action Committee (PAC).
PAC activists staged protests on each weekend to generate awareness and caution the authorities against letting the canal turn into a second Buddha Nullah. Members also brought the issue before the notice of National Green Tribunal (NGT) and sought action against the civic body.
Minister appeals for public support in developmental works
Paying obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib at Sukhmani Sahib path organised by Municipal Employees Sangharsh Committee to mark New year celebrations at MC Zone D office in Sarabha Nagar, Nijjar appealed the residents to step forward to save the environment and groundwater. Minister also assured to take up the issues raised by the union chairperson Ashwani Sahota and President Jasdev Sekhon.
The minister also honoured different non-governmental organisations/social activists that have been working in association with the civic body.
Street vendors dub AAP-govt ‘anti-poor’
Nijjar’s visit, meanwhile, also triggered protests as street vendors, led by social activists, raised slogans against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for being “anti-poor” and condemned the civic body’s anti-encroachment drive.
The protesting vendors said the civic body staff scattered their valuables while removing encroachments. They further alleged that the authorities are targeting the poor while no action was taken against the spaces being encroached upon by the rich and influential.