Punjab sewerage desilting drive targets 2,200 km clearance before monsoon season

Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced a state-wide sewerage desilting drive to clear 2,200 km of sewer lines and 1,400 chronic hotspots before the monsoon. The work covers 800 km of trunk lines and 1,400 km of branch lines in mohallas, aiming to prevent sewage overflow across cities and towns.

Punjab Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains said a statewide sewerage desilting drive is underway before the rainy season. The plan targets 2,200 km of sewer lines across cities and towns. Officials also flagged 1,400 chronic hotspots where monsoon sewage overflow is reported. The department said these locations see repeat complaints each year.

Bains said the work includes 800 km of main trunk lines and 1,400 km of branch lines inside mohallas. The stated aim is to prevent sewage overflow during monsoon conditions. Bains linked the target to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s direction for cleaner urban areas during rains.

Punjab sewerage desilting drive targets 2,200 km lines and 1,400 hotspots

"Every year, when rains come, every city and every mohalla has some points where sewage overflows. This time, under the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, we have been given a clear target, no sewage overflow anywhere in Punjabs cities and towns,\" Bains stated. Officials said 1,400 hotspots were marked based on repeated overflow reports.

Bains shared a city-wise plan covering key urban centres and smaller towns. Work is also taking place in Nangal, where desilting is being done for the first time. The department said hotspot clearance and line cleaning will run in parallel. The programme aims to finish key cleaning before rains intensify.

Punjab sewerage desilting drive uses machines, training, and daily dashboard checks

The minister said staff from local bodies and the Sewerage Board received special training for the operation. \"We have deployed super-suction machines and high-capacity jetting equipment. Separate control rooms and digital dashboards are being set up for real-time information.\" Bains added that progress will be reviewed each day through a dashboard.

Bains cited a recent field case to explain why checks will be strict. \"In Ludhianas Bhattian area, our team found concrete had been poured inside a sewer line from a house built nearby. That line was choked for six years, causing trouble for the entire locality. Such negligence will not be tolerated.\" The department said monitoring will continue through the drive.

With inputs from PTI