Minister Tarunpreet Sond : In a significant initiative led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has launched a massive campaign to clean nearly 15,000 village ponds across the state — a task that had been long overlooked for the past two to three decades.
Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond shared this update during his visit to inspect ongoing pond-cleaning work in several villages, including Chanarathal Kalan, Khare, and Dera Meer Miran in Sirhind block; Ralli in Bassi Pathana block; and Isherhel and Chunni Kalan in Khera block of Fatehgarh Sahib district.
Minister Sond pointed out that previous governments had neglected these village ponds for 15 to 25 years, resulting in heavy siltation, stagnant water, foul odors, and mosquito infestations — all of which had become major health and environmental hazards. Under CM Mann’s leadership, these long-standing issues are finally being addressed.
He noted that cleaning work is already in progress in many villages, with 1,062 ponds dewatered and about 400 already desilted. Depending on their condition, some ponds are undergoing both desilting and re-silting to rejuvenate their natural balance.
To ensure the success of the project, senior officials have been instructed to carry out regular field inspections and closely monitor progress. The Minister warned that any negligence by officials or staff involved in the initiative will not be tolerated.
Minister Tarunpreet Sond also explained that the pond rejuvenation campaign is part of a broader rural upliftment plan. The Punjab Government has recently approved a ₹4,573 crore development package to improve rural infrastructure, which includes pond restoration, regular upkeep, and the creation of sports grounds in villages.
The state is also adopting decentralized sewage treatment systems in line with the Thapar and Seechewal models. Water samples from the cleaned ponds are being tested, and if deemed safe, the water will be used for agricultural purposes. If not, water treatment projects will be implemented before any such use.
Minister Tarunpreet Sond stressed that the removal of silt and contaminated water before the monsoon is vital to improving groundwater recharge and slowing down the depletion of the state’s water table.
Minister Tarunpreet Sond concluded by affirming that the mission to build a vibrant and thriving “Rangla Punjab” is gaining momentum under CM Mann’s leadership and with the guidance of former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. He said both the Chief Minister and cabinet members are directly overseeing the comprehensive development of rural Punjab.
Local MLAs Lakhbir Singh Rai (Fatehgarh Sahib) and Rupinder Singh Happy (Bassi Pathana), along with senior officials from various departments, accompanied the minister during the visit. The dignitaries also paid their respects at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib before beginning the inspections.