Punjab Government will import trenching machines from Holland to solve the water-logging problem affecting over 80,000 acres of fertile land in the state, especially in the Malwa area.
An order amounting to `20 crore has been placed with Inter Drain Company, Netherland (Holland) for the purchase of four trenching machines as well as lay the underground pipes for sub surface schemes.
‘Punjab is all set to solve chronic water logging problem that is affecting over 80,000 acres of fertile land especially in Malwa area by importing sub-trenching machines from Holland that could start digging sub-surface trenching within next 10 days,’ said the state Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, after inaugurating a two-day workshop on ‘Water logging and Soil Salinity in Irrigated Agriculture’ on Thursday.
He said that the machines will reach Punjab next month, and an area of 12,882 acres in about 53 villages will be benefited from the equipment.
‘These Trenching Machines will leave Netherland on September 11 and will reach here in October 2015. With these machines and two old trenching machines, it is anticipated that works of sub surface amounting to `250 crore will be completed by March 2017 and with this 12,882 acre area of about 53 villages will be benefitted,’ he said.
Dhillon maintained that area under water logging was brought down from 1.04 lakh acres to 80,000 acres by the state government.
‘Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is waging a war against the problem of water logging and with his efforts and focused approach, the area under water logging has been brought down from 1.04 lakh acres to 80000 acres,’ he said.
The problem of water logging is acute in Muktsar and Fazilka districts of the State. ‘It is also posing health hazards as people under water logging affected areas face the risk of contracting cancer,’
The Minister also exhorted the scientists and technical experts to find a long lasting solution to end the menace.
Dhillon made it clear that no dearth of funds would be allowed to come in the way of constructing new drains, lift schemes, sub-surface drainage system, cleaning of drains, widening or modelling of drains, removal of over burden, constructing embankments at low-lying places and to reduce the seepage of Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind Feeder by intercepting surface drains.
He said that for this purpose, the Centre has released `240 crores as first instalment and the State Government is in the process of releasing its share of `80 crore.