Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said the state government had ensured a recharge of 21 lakh cubic metres of water in the state’s ground water reserves with its surface water irrigation project. The CM added that there had been a two to four metre rise in the groundwater levels across 57 wells (tube wells) in the state.ਅੱਜ ਪਿੰਡ ਸੀਚੇਵਾਲ ਵਿਖੇ ਸੰਤ ਬਾਬਾ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੀ 38ਵੀਂ ਬਰਸੀ ਮੌਕੇ ਨਤਮਸਤਕ ਹੋਣ ਦਾ ਸੁਭਾਗ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੋਇਆ।ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਰਾਜ ਸਭਾ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਸੰਤ ਬਲਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੀਚੇਵਾਲ ਜੀ ਨਾਲ ‘ਸੰਤ ਅਵਤਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਯਾਦਗਾਰੀ ਹਾਕੀ ਸਟੇਡੀਅਮ’ ਵਿਖੇ ਨਵੇਂ ਐਸਟ੍ਰੋਟਰਫ ਦਾ ਉਦਘਾਟਨ ਕੀਤਾ। ਸੰਤ ਜੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਵਾਤਾਵਰਨ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਲਈ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਨਿਸ਼ਕਾਮ ਸੇਵਾ… pic.twitter.com/aYpB0jaIvV— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) May 28, 2026The CM said this while addressing the 38th annual death anniversary of Sant Baba Avtar Singh at Seechewal village in Shahkot here on Thursday. The CM also lauded the Seechewal model and complimented environmentalist and Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, for “turning into a verdant jungle”- what was once a region marked with “tibbas” (Dunes).Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the CM said, “We have taken 21,000 cusecs of water to fields (with the surface water irrigation scheme). The scenario is such that groundwater is getting depleted and surface water has been polluted. But through recharge points in canals and drains, 21 lakh cubic metres of water has been recharged in the state. Across at least 57 wells (tubewells) water levels have risen by two to four metres. We exhort people to use water from rivulets and drains, as it is also mineral-rich.”Lauding MP Seechewal, the CM said, “36 years ago, this place was populated by ‘tibbe’ and people used to farm groundnuts and green chick peas here. Now there is a verdant jungle. With the efforts of one environmentalist, the caravan has gotten so big. Thousands of plants from the nursery here, taken by people across the state, are spreading flowers, fruits and shade.”Also invoking the Gurus, Mann said Guru Nanak’s visionary message of “Pawan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat” (Wind is the Guru, Water is the father and the Earth is our great mother) couldn’t be honoured in spirit as only a few people are working to preserve the environment as per the Gurus’ vision but Seechewal was one of them.”The CM said the requests by the ‘sant samaj’ and conservationists for better roads, protection of dams, cleaner canals and concerns regarding groundwater were promptly being heeded.He also added that certain sarpanches had also met him with demands of sports stadiums, Astro turfs, roads etc., which would also be addressed.