CHANDIGARH: Punjab Soil and Water Conservation MinisterBarinder Kumar Goyal stressed for critical need for innovative water management strategies and comprehensive farmer awareness programmes.
In a maiden review meeting at the MGSIPA here with the officials of the Soil and Water Conservation department, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal called for an aggressive and holistic approach to water conservation, directing department officials to accelerate ongoing projects and develop a robust communication strategy to ensure maximum penetration of government initiatives at the grassroots level.
Goyal reiterated Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government's commitment to maximizing surface and canal water utilization, with a specific focus on ensuring water reaches tail-end agricultural regions to progressively reduce groundwater dependency.
The Cabinet Minister particularly accentuated the importance of farmer engagement, recognizing a significant information gap regarding departmental programmes. He mandated the development of a comprehensive and strategically crafted water conservation awareness programme, stressing direct and personal communication approaches to effectively disseminate information and programme benefits. The Cabinet Minister clearly directed department officials to expedite ongoing works and implement innovative water conservation methodologies.
The high-level meeting, attended by Sh. Anurag Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture, comprehensively reviewed the state's water availability challenges and current departmental programmes.
Highlighting the department's strategic priorities, Sh. Verma emphasized the underground pipeline irrigation programme, stressing the need to mobilize funding from diverse sources.
S. Mohinder Singh Saini, Chief Conservator of Soils, presented key initiatives including the revival of two strategic programmes: irrigation through village ponds and check dam construction in the Kandi region to facilitate in-situ rainwater harvesting.