Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Shruti Choudhry, has issued a stern directive to department officials to wrap up all pending flood control activities by June 15. Speaking during the 57th meeting of the Haryana State Disaster Management and Flood Control Board, the minister emphasized that cleaning drains, desilting rivers, and executing short-term flood mitigation strategies must be finalized well before the monsoon arrives. She noted that these measures are essential to ensure that the general public does not face undue hardship during the upcoming rainy season, effectively telling officials that it is time to sink or swim when it comes to infrastructure readiness.
Choudhry made it clear that accountability will be a top priority, warning that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini himself will be conducting the final review of these projects. The minister stated that negligence at any level would not be tolerated. She explicitly instructed that if any delays or lapses in the quality of work are discovered, the respective Chief Engineers will face strict disciplinary action. The government’s stance is one of zero tolerance regarding public safety and water management efficiency, signalling that the days of lackadaisical project oversight are well and truly over.
For projects that have yet to see any movement, the minister ordered that work commence on a war footing immediately. Beyond the physical labour, officials have been told to expedite the procurement of necessary equipment, including pumps and pipes required for effective water drainage. During the session, the progress of decisions made in the previous meeting was also scrutinized, with a clear message that every officer must maintain regular oversight within their jurisdiction to prevent any logistical bottlenecks that could lead to urban flooding.
The minister also took a hard line against contractors, directing officials to blacklist any firms that fail to complete their allocated tasks within the stipulated time frames. She reiterated that the provincial government views public protection and superior water management as its highest priorities and expects departmental officers to act with both responsibility and alacrity. The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary of Irrigation and Water Resources, Anurag Agarwal, along with other senior departmental officers who are now tasked with ensuring that development work remains unhindered.
