Canal management has greatly helped in the achievement of the target of food:PIDA

Lahore: The practical participation of the farming community in the canal management has yielded positive results and ongoing process of reformation of canal system has greatly helped in the achievement of the target of food autarky as well as effective maintenance of the irrigation network in Punjab.

This was stated by General Manager Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority (PIDA) Mian Maqbool Ahmad while presiding over a departmental meeting at PIDA head quarters. Deputy General Manager (TM) Afzal Anjum Toor, Deputy General Manager (Operation) Mian Abdul Rashid, Deputy General Manager (Social Mobilization) Syed Shaiq Hussain Abidi and the concerned field managers also attended the meeting. The meeting reviewed in detail the performance of farming organizations, preparation of election schedule for the formation of 67 FOs in Lower Chenab Canal (West) Area Water Board, the status of abiana collection, review of updated guidelines to cope with the different socio-environmental issues while managing the irrigation projects as well as revamping of PIDA website.

While expressing his satisfaction over the performance of the PIDA staff, the PIDA GM directed that the capacity building programs of the FOs be further expedited so that FO members could perform well. He further said that elections of 67 FOs in the area water board of LCC (West) be conducted according to the schedule. It would give an opportunity to the farmers to benefit from the reforms process, he concluded.