After Kali Bein cleaning, revival of Buddha Nullah next in line: Mann

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said saving the waters of the state was the biggest priority for his government. He said while 63% of the state’s canal (surface) water had been brought into use from the 21% three years ago, conserving water was the need of the hour for the future generations.

Stating this at an event to mark the 25th anniversary celebrations of Kali Bein at Sultanpur Lodhi, the CM, while lauding Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal for his efforts to conserve the rivulet, said Buddha Nullah was next on the state’s list of rivulets to be conserved. Seechewal had been tasked with its conservation as well.

The CM said, “What Seechewal has done with his team to conserve water finds a very few precedents. Our waters, canals, drains and rivulets have turned black. They are spoiled with the waste waters of the city and factories. Our state gets its name from waters — Panj Aab, the land of five rivers. But we don’t have either surface water or beneath the ground. The water level in the state has gone as deep as 600 ft. Saving water is the biggest priority right now.”

The CM added, “When we took oath at Khatkar Kalan, 21% of canal water was being utilised in the state. In three years, it has been increased to 63%. We revived old

water bodies, rivulets and drains and got rid of pipes to draw underground water. This is the only way to save groundwater.”

He exhorted people to take an oath to save water and prevent it from being polluted.

Reduced to a dried-up marshy land and repleted with hyacinth, Seechewal had led a kar sewa to revive Kali Bein in 2000. The anniversary of the kar sewa is being celebrated these days. Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru, had attained enlightenment in Kali Bein.

Punjab