With the monsoon season approaching, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed officials to ensure the timely cleaning of all drains, canals, and sewer systems across the state, emphasizing that no laxity will be tolerated in flood preparedness measures.
Chairing a high-level review meeting with officials from the Irrigation, Public Health, and Local Bodies Departments, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of completing all cleaning operations well before the onset of monsoon rains. He also instructed departments to ensure continuous monitoring of the work and to strengthen embankments, particularly in densely populated areas where the risk of waterlogging is higher.
Highlighting the need for proactive planning, the Chief Minister called for the construction of strong berms along drains and canals to prevent overflow and breaches. He further directed officials to inspect weak embankments in advance and reinforce them, especially in low-lying areas vulnerable to flooding. To promote environmental sustainability, he also suggested plantation drives along embankments to make them greener and more resilient.
Addressing region-specific concerns, the Chief Minister proposed the development of a drainage system in Fatehabad to channel rainwater up to the Rajasthan border. This initiative, he noted, would not only help manage excess water during heavy rainfall but also enable farmers in the region to utilize the collected water for irrigation purposes.
Urban flooding was another major concern highlighted during the meeting. With rapid urbanization leading to increased population density, natural water flow in cities has been disrupted, resulting in frequent waterlogging. The Chief Minister directed officials to prepare detailed proposals for new drainage infrastructure in such areas to ensure long-term solutions.
He also called for special attention to key river systems, including the Ghaggar River, Markanda River, and Tangri River, emphasizing the need for thorough cleaning and strengthening of embankments along these rivers. Additionally, he instructed officials to channelize the Saraswati River near Cheeka in Kurukshetra and to prepare a proposal for industrial wastewater drainage in Bawal.
Officials from the Irrigation Department informed the Chief Minister that significant progress has already been made. Out of 825 identified drains and sewers, cleaning work has been completed on 713, with the remaining expected to be finished by June. In terms of flood protection measures, tenders for 250 out of 425 short-term projects have been finalized, and the rest are likely to be completed by the end of the current month.
The department has also ensured the availability of adequate pumping infrastructure to tackle waterlogging. A total of 2,723 pumps have been readied across the state, including diesel, electric, and mobile units, with a combined drainage capacity of 9,609 cusecs.
From the urban perspective, the Chief Minister was informed that out of 2,655 kilometers of drains across 87 local bodies, 1,116 kilometers have already been cleaned. The remaining work is targeted for completion by June. Meanwhile, the Public Health Department is working to complete cleaning of 100 kilometers of drainage lines across 85 cities by the end of May.
Reiterating his commitment to public safety and infrastructure readiness, Chief Minister Saini emphasized that timely execution and strict monitoring will be key to minimizing flood risks during the monsoon. The state government, he said, is fully prepared to take all necessary measures to protect both rural and urban areas from waterlogging and flood-related disruptions.
