The paddy transplantation drive kicked off in Punjab on Monday with the State Government reiterating its resolve to help the farmers and provide them total support to achieve maximum productivity.
Reviewing the arrangements, the State Agriculture Minister Tota Singh said that instructions have already been issued to ensure eight-hour power supply to the farmers. He said that the State Government was fully prepared to meet the challenge of deficit monsoon and the Irrigation Department has been directed to run all canals to the full capacity so that farmers at tail-end could get full supply.
Control room has been setup by the Powercom to immediately redress the complaints, he said, adding that the directions have also been issued to the canal wing to run canals on full capacity to reinforce embankments of the canals.
In Punjab, canals 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.