Legislative Assembly Unanimously Passes Resolution To Protect State's Water And Environment

The government has restored 79 canals extending 545 kms, providing irrigation to 41135 acres.

- TARUNI GANDHI

The Punjab Legislative Assembly, on Tuesday, unanimously passed a resolution to protect the declining water levels and environment of the state. Punjab Water Resources Minister Brinder Kumar Goyal, while speaking on a resolution introduced by MLA Nabha Gurdev Singh Dev Maan, highlighted the initiative and efforts of the Punjab government to conserve groundwater and expressed disappointment over the union government's biased approach.

During his address in the assembly, Goyal said that during the previous Congress government's tenure from 2019 to 2022, around Rs. 2046 crore were spent on canal infrastructure. In contrast, our government has invested over Rs. 4557 crore from 2022 to 2025 on canal water conservation, infrastructure restoration, and ensuring water reaches agricultural land, which is more than 2.25 times the previous expenditure.

He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had decided immediately upon forming the government to ensure water reaches agricultural land, which we have successfully accomplished. Previously, dam water was utilized at only 68%, but now through Mann government efforts, it has increased to 84%, said the Cabinet Minister, adding that the government has restored 17072 water courses spanning 6300 kms, which had been dilapidated and non-functional for 30-40 years.