Punjab sets up committees to monitor drainage projects

The Punjab government today announced the formation of monitoring committees to expedite the work for cleaning of drainage and rivulets in the state and to ensure proper utilisation of funds.
Local elected representatives have been given the task of surveillance of the work-in-progress and to ensure hassle-free and timely completion of a project, an official spokesman said here.
"In these committees, District agriculture officers, Area Irrigation officers and Sarpanch of the respective village, through which the canal or rivulet is passing, have been inducted," he said.
"The Deputy Commissioner would monitor disbursement of funds. The Irrigation department would record pictures of the water bodies before and after the work," he said, adding "the pictures would be put in before the respective monitoring committee for its vetting," the spokesman said.

After the scrutiny and acceptance of the report by the monitoring committee, the funds would be released to the contractor, he said.
The chief engineer of canals would be responsible for the overall work and transparent utilisation of funds, whereas Chief Engineer (Vigilance) will inspect the project site at least once in every region and report it to respective Deputy Commissioner.