Amarinder Singh proposes canalisation of rivers, discusses with PM

The Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to formally invite him for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor and the main event to mark the 550th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Nanak Dev at Dera Baba Nanak on November 9. During their meeting, CM Capt Amarinder Singh urged the Central Government to take up canalisation of the State’s three eastern rivers of the Indus Water System as a national project to enable the conservation of water and enhancement of the region’s economic growth.

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Capt Amarinder Singh presented a proposal to PM Modi in the meeting. In the proposal, the Chief Minister suggested the construction of high-speed economic corridors on 985 km-long river embankments, apart from river training works, flood protection measures and lining of internal side-slopes of the Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas. Highlighting the need to increase water productivity, Captain Amarinder suggested the launch of the canalisation project with the Sutlej river, which would require an investment of about Rs. 4,000 crore over a period of 3 to 5 years, as per reports. 

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Jal Shakti Abhiyan

Taking into consideration the Centre's water conservation initiative, CM Singh said that the move to canalise would help the State enhance its 'Jal Shakti’ to encourage diversification of agriculture, promote quality urbanisation and colonisation, and speed up industrialisation. The Chief Minister assured that the State would extend its full cooperation to get the proposal realised in terms of sending a team of officers from the Punjab Government to engage and discuss the same with the officials of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. 

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According to reports, Captain Amarinder also underlined the need to harness the river water which was currently flowing into Pakistan during the monsoons. Pointing out that the three rivers as of now have earthen embankments, measuring 945.24 km, covering almost over 60% of State's area, he observed that the 1/3rd of the State’s population living in the riverfront areas was also suffering due to the flooding that occurs during the monsoon period. The canalisation of rivers and development of riverfront areas will expand activities leading to widening of the base of Punjab's economy, diversifying economic activities, and sources of livelihood for the State's rapidly growing younger generation, he added.

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