Irrigation staff is involved in the canal water theft:Minister for Irrigation

Lahore:Provincial Minister for Irrigation Malik Ahmad Ali has directed the officials of Irrigation Department to submit solid and practicable proposals for checking the incidents of water theft through various methods in connivance with the department staff so that necessary amendments could be made in Canal and Drainage Act for fixing strict punishments against those elements involved in this illegal and unethical business. This step will ensure judicious distribution of water to the farmers, he added.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting of a high level committee constituted for considering the amendments in Canal and Drainage Act in the Committee Room of Punjab Assembly here today. Members Provincial Assembly Tahir Sindhu, Ali Asghar Munda, Mushtaq Ahmad, Ch. Muhammad Shafique, Safdar, Maj. Retd. Abdul Rehman, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Chief Engineer Irrigation Research Ahmad Sher Dogar, Gen. Manager Operation Ch. Karamat Ali and Rabia Sultan were also present on this occasion.

Malik Ahmad Ali said that amendments in the laws are necessary for eliminating the incidents of involvement of Irrigation Department staff in the canal water theft so that such deterrent punishment could be fixed against the staff and elements involved in water theft as could keep them away from this illegal business. He said that keeping the water channels according to size is the responsibility of sub engineer mate and checking the water is the responsibility of guage reader. However poor farmers are facing problems due to non existence of effective checking system, he added. He said that FIR should be got registered against the persons responsible of water theft and collective cases should not be registered to save the innocent persons.

Provincial Minister said that farmers are playing important role in the development of the country for meeting the food requirement by working day and night and provision of maximum facilities to the farmers is priority of Punjab government. He stressed upon the Irrigation officers to fulfill their responsibilities and take important steps for ensuring the share of water to the farmers.

Members Provincial Assembly informed the meeting that farmers are facing problems due to shortage of water and this problem can be overcome by controlling the incidents of water theft.