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Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday exhorted the farmers to make maximum use of surface water during the ensuing paddy season to save the groundwater.

Chairing a meeting of Water resources department here, he said that the state government is fully geared to supply canal water from the forthcoming paddy season. He said that from June 11 the canal water will be supplied to farmers uninterruptedly as the work of de-silting the canals has already been accomplished. Mann said that canal water would be supplied in districts of Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot, Mansa, Bathinda, Fazilka, Ferozepur and areas beyond the fence at international border from June 11 and in Moga, Sangrur, Malerkotla, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, SAS Nagar, Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Pathankot from June 15.

Mann said that Punjab is on the threshold of setting a new record for supplying canal water for the irrigational needs adding that for the first time, the state government has set up a dedicated control room for enquiries regarding supply of canal water. He said that if anyone desires to get any information regarding the supply of canal water that person can call on +91 96461 51466 to get the details. He expressed hope that the farmers will duly utilise the canal water for irrigating the paddy fields and play a major role in saving the ground water.

The Chief Minister also said that to avert floods in the state the Punjab government has taken initiatives including designing the discharge of Choes/Torrents/Rivers as per 100 years flood discharge and accordingly notifying the flood plains of the Rivers and drains/choes under The Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, Strengthening of main Embankments of rivers and Restriction of works on advance bundh. He said that for emergency response system data base of people such as bag suppliers, wire binders, earth moving equipment's, tractor trolley owners, divers and local volunteers has been compiled and empty cement bags and filled bags are being planned to be stored at strategic locations for emergent use. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Bamboo plantations are being carried out on inner slopes of rivers and Obstruction caused by NHAI, B&R and Mandi Board to the sheet flow of the flood waters have been identified and are being removed.

NO REDUCTION IN RATION UNDER PDS TO BENEFICIARIES BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT: ASSERTS CM
 

Chairing a separate meeting, Mann said that the state government is duty-bound to ensure an uninterrupted supply of ration to the beneficiaries under Ghar Ghar ration scheme. He said that due to their vested political interests, some rumour mongers had spread canards that a huge reduction has been made in ration by the state government. He said that this was baseless and unwarranted as all the beneficiaries are getting the facility under the scheme and full ration is being given to them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he has already sought report pertaining to it from all the Deputy Commissioners across the state so that beneficiaries get the benefits of the scheme regularly.

Mann said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for the entire state that the ration is being distributed to the beneficiaries through Model Fair Price Shops (MFPS) Set Up across the state. He said that 1.54 crore Beneficiaries are getting the ration through 40.19 lakh ration cards and this will continue by all means. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the scheme envisages smooth and hassle-free delivery of ration to the people.

He said that Gone are the days when people had to face a lot of inconvenience for getting food grains under the National Food Security Act by waiting in long queues. He bemoaned that people had to face undue harassment while getting these grains most of the time while skipping their daily work or during odd hours. But Mann said that now with the distribution of ration at the vicinity of the beneficiaries, a new era has been ushered in as the beneficiary shall not be required to stand in long queues, especially in inclement weather conditions adding that this will not only ensure delivery of nutritious food grains to people but will also go a long way in saving their time, money and energy.