Lashing out at SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal for his “misleading and distorted” statement regarding the supply of canal water to the farmers, Punjab Water Resources Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria on Friday made it clear that there was no shortage of canal water anywhere in the state and no complaint has been lodged by any farmer in this regard till now.
Terming Sukhbir’s statement as “a trick to gain political mileage” in which the latter claimed that if power and water supply is not restored in the next two days, the paddy crop would get destroyed, Sarkaria said that SAD chief is lying about the supply of canal water and misleading the farmers.
“Punjab receives canal water from Bhakra Dam, Pong Dam, and Ranjit Sagar Dam. However, due to deficit rainfall and snowfall this year, the water level in these dams has reached 56.24 feet, 55.84 feet, and 10.10 meters (respectively), which is lower than last year. On the contrary, the demand for canal water has increased significantly due to less rainfall,” he added.
Sarkaria said that in spite of the low levels in the dams, the water in the canals is being discharged at full capacity like every year — Sirhind canal system supplying water to Malwa region at its capacity of 11,000 cusecs, and Ferozepur canal system at about 10,000 cusecs capacity.
Similarly, the Bist-Doab canal, which supplies canal water to the Doaba region, is running at a capacity of 1,450 cusecs, the Shah Canal system at about 600 cusecs and Upper Bari Doab canal system is supplying water to the Majha region at a capacity of about 6,000 cusecs, he added.
“Wherever the canals cannot carry water as per their capacity due to poor condition, a rotation system is being implemented like every year. Apart from this, water is being supplied at the tail-end areas and the officials of the Water Resources Department are also monitoring it on a daily basis so that the farmers do not face any problem,” he added. The Minister further said that the power crisis would be over soon as the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has already issued instructions in this regard.
“It is totally wrong to say that the paddy crop has been destroyed due to the non-availability of canal water as Sukhbir alleged,” said Sarkaria adding that the decisions of the present government are more pro-farmer as compared to the previous government.