Khijrabad (Banur)/Chandigarh, May 15:
Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister, Tarunpreet Singh Sond, announced that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has embarked on a transformative mission to enhance the aesthetics and vitality of the state’s villages. He emphasized that the Punjab government’s initiatives will leave a lasting impact on rural Punjab.
Highlighting key developments, Minister Sond stated that 15,000 village ponds are being cleaned and rejuvenated, and 13,000 rural sports grounds are being developed or upgraded as part of a comprehensive strategy to uplift rural life and promote youth engagement. He criticized previous governments for their inaction in maintaining village ponds and providing sports facilities for rural youth.
Addressing a press conference during a visit to the rural sports ground in Khijrabad (Banur), accompanied by MLA Neena Mittal, Sond remarked, “In every village, two locations define its spirit — the pond and the playground. Our government is committed to revitalizing both, ensuring that they become symbols of prosperity and pride.”
As part of the Rural Rejuvenation Mission, the government is building or upgrading over 13,000 sports grounds across all 154 development blocks. These efforts are aligned with the government’s broader vision of a “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh,” encouraging youth participation in sports and steering them away from substance abuse.
The projects are being implemented through a combination of budgetary funds worth Rs. 3,500 crore, MGNREGA, and Finance Commission grants. Furthermore, 3,000 new Model Sports Grounds are being constructed with special focus on locally popular sports, and 4,300 existing playgrounds are undergoing significant upgrades.
Sond expressed concern that many rural children grow up without access to sports facilities, which hinders their physical development and career prospects. “We are ensuring that every child in every village has access to safe, green, and well-equipped playgrounds to play, compete, and grow,” he stated.
Later, Sond visited villages including Azizpur, Fareedpur Gujjran, Bhateri, Nalas Khurd, and Manakpur to review the status of playground development and pond cleaning. During an inspection of the Azizpur Stadium, he noted some deficiencies and directed the Patiala ADC to submit a report.
He revealed that this is the first-of-its-kind mission in Punjab, aimed at cleaning, rejuvenating, and treating water in over 15,000 ponds across all 154 blocks in a phased manner. According to field reports, Dewatering has been completed in 1,587 ponds and ongoing in 4,408 ponds. Similarly, Desilting has been completed in over 515 ponds and underway in 1,901 ponds. The entire dewatering process is expected to be completed by May 30, 2025.
The Minister announced that in the first phase of FY 2025-26, 5,000 ponds will be developed under the Thapar/Seechewal model. “This is not just a cleanliness initiative. It is a movement to restore dignity and quality of life in our villages,” he said.
For decades, many village ponds had turned into dumping grounds, filled with waste, plastic, and wild overgrowth, becoming unfit for animals, mosquito breeding grounds, and unsuitable for agriculture. Now, these water bodies are being transformed into clean water sources to be reused for farming and community needs.
He emphasized that large-scale dewatering and desilting operations are being undertaken for the first time in decades, significantly enhancing water storage capacity and natural flow patterns. This initiative marks a historic step in Punjab’s rural transformation, demonstrating the state government’s unwavering commitment to clean water, youth empowerment, and sustainable village development.
