Repair and Maintenance Work of Drains Must Be Completed on Time, No Compromise on Quality: Shruti Choudhry

Chandigarh, Nov 2025 – Haryana’s Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Smt. Shruti Choudhry, while reviewing projects costing over ₹20 crore, directed officials to personally monitor all such projects, prepare regular ground reports, and closely track the progress of works. She instructed that strict action be taken against contractors who delay projects by one year or more beyond the stipulated timeline, including blacklisting them. Additionally, disciplinary proceedings should be initiated against the concerned Executive Engineers and Superintending Engineers.

The Minister emphasized that repair and improvement works of drains across the State must be completed within the prescribed timeframe and that high-quality material should be used to ensure durability.

Smt. Shruti Choudhry was presiding over a departmental review meeting with senior officials at the Civil Secretariat today.

She said that flood-affected areas should be identified on priority, and high-quality pipelines should be laid there to ensure effective water drainage in the future. She instructed officials to strengthen the water management system in areas where drains overflow during the monsoon and to ensure proper water distribution, so that farmers are relieved from the problem of waterlogging.

The Minister reiterated that all officials must personally supervise ongoing projects, prepare regular field reports, and keep a strict watch on the progress of each work. Contractors delaying works by one to two years must face strict punitive action, including blacklisting.

She further stated that officials must maintain complete transparency in their work. Without transparency and accountability, the quality of development projects cannot improve. The Minister said that the State Government’s objective is to carry out maximum welfare-oriented works for the public, and the Irrigation Department must work diligently and honestly toward this goal.

Smt. Shruti Choudhry added that the Government is taking all possible steps to strengthen water resource management while keeping the interests of farmers and citizens as its top priority. These efforts aim to ensure an adequate water supply to Haryana’s farmlands and prevent flood-like situations in the future.

The meeting also included detailed discussions on the Gurugram Water Supply Channel Project, aimed at providing an adequate drinking water supply to the city of Gurugram. Officials informed that a consultant is being appointed for this project.

The Minister stated that she would personally monitor the progress of all works and that action would be taken against any officials found negligent in their duties.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Sh. Anurag Agarwal, along with other senior officers, was present in the meeting.