category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh Punjab Water Resources and Soil Water Conservation Minister Chetan Singh Jaurmajra on Wednesday reiterated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led state government was committed to preserving groundwater so that the problem of depleting water level can be addressed thoroughly. Presiding over separate meetings at Ludhiana and Moga with the officials of water resources and mining and geology departments, the Cabinet Minister asked to complete ongoing work in a time-bound manner besides ensuring the cleaning of water courses and transparency in government functioning. Chairing a review meeting with the officials of Ludhiana Canal Circle, the Minister directed the officials to ensure timely completion of all ongoing projects aimed at water conservation in their respective jurisdiction. Accompanied by Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh Rouri, MLA Kulwant Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, Daljeet Singh Grewal, Rajinderpal Kaur Chhina, Sarbjit Kaur Manuke, Amit Rattan, Gurditt Singh Sekhon, Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Chairman Sharanpal Singh Makkar, the Minister asked the officials to initiate all water conservation related works at war footing to keep depleting groundwater under check. He stated that the Punjab Government was making concerted efforts to preserve groundwater by taking necessary steps to further strengthen the irrigation system through canals. Listening to the issues concerning irrigation, canal systems, and groundwater management raised by the respective MLAs, Mr. Jauramajra issued on-the-spot directions to the officials concerned to act swiftly to resolve such problems. He mentioned that a review meeting will also be held next month to review the progress achieved on the issues taken up by the MLAs, and Chairman s during this meeting. The Minister also directed the officials to ensure the de-silting of all the drains before the onset of rainy seasons for smooth and uninterrupted flow of rainwater through the drainage system to further prevent waterlogging. He further directed them to clear all pending files for quick disposal of important issues. Meanwhile, he categorically asked the officials of the mining department to ensure strict action against illegal mining, if reported as the state government has already adopted zero-tolerance against illegal mining. He stated that any such act would be highly unwarranted as stringent action would be taken against persons involved in such illegal activity. (editor dailyworld.in)