CHANDIGARH – In a massive effort to tackle the perennial menace of waterlogging and sewage overflow during the rainy season, the Punjab government has launched its largest-ever sewer cleaning campaign. Local Government Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that the initiative will cover 2,200 kilometres of sewer lines and address 1,400 identified “hotspots” across all cities and towns in the state.
The mission, driven by the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is being executed on a war footing to ensure that the state is monsoon-ready.
A Data-Driven Approach to Infrastructure
The campaign focuses on both arterial and local infrastructure. According to the Minister, the clean-up will include:
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800 km of main trunk lines
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1,400 km of branch lines
To ensure efficiency, the government has deployed state-of-the-art super-suction machines and high-capacity jetting equipment. The administration has also established dedicated control rooms and a digital dashboard to monitor progress in real-time. Accountability has been strictly enforced, with responsibility delegated from the Junior Engineer (JE) level up to the Superintending Engineer (SE).
Targeted Focus Across Key Cities
The cleaning operation is prioritizing cities with historically high rates of sewage overflow. Key deployments include:
| City | Sewer Lines (km) | Hotspots Addressed |
| Jalandhar | 108 | 47 |
| Patiala | 93 | – |
| Bathinda | 55 | 39 |
| Ludhiana | 40 | 42 |
| Mohali | 36 | – |
| Kotkapura | 21 | – |
| Zirakpur | 14 | 15 |
| Kharar | 11 | 11 |
| Dhuri | 7 | 3 |
| Nangal | 7 | – |
Zero Tolerance for Negligence
Minister Bains emphasized that the government will no longer tolerate the systemic negligence that has plagued urban drainage for years. He cited a striking example from the Bhattian area of Ludhiana, where a sewer line had been non-functional for six years due to concrete blocks caused by illegal private construction.
“Such negligence will not be tolerated,” Bains stated, confirming that the government is now involving local MLAs and municipal councillors to oversee the field operations.
Health and Public Welfare
Beyond infrastructure, the campaign carries significant public health implications. By systematically clearing stagnant water and sewage, the government aims to drastically reduce the breeding grounds for mosquitoes, thereby curbing the annual surge of vector-borne diseases like dengue.
“Our aim is to completely eliminate the problem of sewage overflow anywhere in any city or town of Punjab,” Bains concluded. He, along with his department officers, will be personally monitoring the field work until the mission is complete.
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