Federal govt is responsible for destroying lakhs of acres of cultivable land:Khosa

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa has said that due to the negligence of the federal government, Dera Ghazi Khan Canal has not been brick-lined which has rendered lakhs of acres of land uncultivable in Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur districts. He said if federal government did not take timely action, more areas would be affected by water logging.

He expressed these views while talking to the media men at 90-Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, here today. He said that Taunsa Barrage was constructed 55 years ago, out of which two canals namely Dera Ghazi Khan Canal and Muzaffargarh Canal, were carved out. But, he pointed out, the experts of that time did not put in place drainage system of this mega project and furthermore, due to the negligence of central government and WAPDA, lands in Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur districts are being affected by water logging, thus destroying lakhs of acres of cultivable land.

Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa said that, after passage of 55 years, the federal government has decided brick-lining of Muzaffargarh canal, which will help in eliminating seepage of water, and ensuring availability of irrigation water to the tail-ends. He said drains are also being constructed under this project, which will help in elimination of water logging in the area. He said this decision of federal government is laudable, and he is extremely happy over this step. He said while this decision is an appreciable step, but not taking this decision in favour of Dera Ghazi Khan is not understandable. He said, if the conditions and damages of both the districts are similar, then they require similar treatment.

He said that the problems of DG Khan district are even worse than Muzaffargarh district, which demand immediate attention of federal government, but by ignoring its problems, federal government and WAPDA are committing an act of injustice to the people of the area. He demanded of the federal government and WAPDA to issue immediate orders, regarding brick-lining of Dera Ghazi Khan Canal, constructing drainage system, beside removing other problems, so that the farmers and the people of the area can benefit from it.