Preparing for the paddy season, Punjab Irrigation Department on Friday issued directions to the canal wing to run canals on full capacity.
The department has asked the wing to be fully prepared to meet total canal irrigation requirement of canal fed area by ensuring that all canals in the State run to its full capacity and to ensure that water was available to full capacity even in the remote areas till the tail ends.
“The State Government is fully seized of the increased irrigation requirement from June 15 with the onset of paddy transplantation all over the State. The total canal wing has been put on full alert to monitor the situation and constitute mobile teams to guard the embankments of canals flowing on full capacity,” said an official spokesperson.
The Chief Engineer (Canals) has been directed to mobilise total stall and cancel the leave of all staff members for the month of June and July to ensure canal water to all canal fed areas of the State.
Spokesperson said that the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already directed the Irrigation Department to be fully prepared for the challenge of deficient monsoons and ensure that farmers do not have to suffer due to deficient rain.
“It should be imperative for the irrigation department to run canals on full capacity especially during transplantation season,” he said.
Seeking the cooperation of villagers living along the embankments of canals, the spokesperson said that village sarpanches have been told to organize thikri pehras along the embankments to check seepage from embankments and any possible sabotage by miscreants.
He said that Punjab government understands the fact that water was basic necessity of every farmer and was fully committed to meet irrigation requirements during paddy season.
Canals in Punjab run in 14,500 kms irrigating 30.88 lakh hectares of land. Sirhind canal, Bhakhra Canal, Bist Doab Canal, Upper Bari Doab Canal, Sirhind Feeder, Eastern Canal and Shah Nehar canal supply water in different areas of the State for irrigation and drinking purposes.
Spokesperson said that the Department of Irrigation has been on toes during the about past three months to clean and rejuvenate the canals, its branches and distributaries with a view to ensure uninterrupted supply of water for irrigation during Kharif 2015. The department has incurred an expenditure of about Rs 100crores for the purpose.
He said that full supply of water has been released in the canals after repair, cleaning, and renovation in the canals in Punjab. “People should not be misled by the propaganda by the vested elements that canal water in certain areas have been stopped due to non-payment of cess and said that no canal water has been stopped anywhere in the state,” he said.
“More water as compared to last year is available in the Bhakhra Nangal, Pong Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam which will ensure adequate supply of water in canals during Kharif 2015,” said the state Irrigation secretary Kahan Singh Pannu.
He further clarified that the Department is fully geared to ensure continuous running of canals for water supply to the farmers during Kharif 2015 especially when the meteorology Department has indicated lesser rain.