Minister Pays a surprise visit to Niaz Beg Distributory,suspended SDO

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Irrigation, Mian Yawar Zman paid a surprise visit to Niaz Beg Distributory and Jaley Ki Dasty and suspended concerned SDO Malik Sarfaraz, Overseer Asad Rabbani and all the subordinate staff on the charges of water theft, tempering of outlets and shortage of water at tale-ends while directed to issue show cause notice to the concerned XEN.

Due to the long standing complaints of water theft from cultivators, the Provincial Minister for Irrigation inspected outlets at various places downstream of Niaz Beg Distributory near Sundar, District Lahore. Chief Engineer Lahore Nazir Anjum, SE Gulzar Bhatti, XEN Sadaqat Lateef and team of Project Management Implementation Unit set up for checking canal water theft also accompanied the Minister.

While talking on the occasion, the Minister said that no leniency would be shown to water thieves and action would be taken against them without any discrimination. He directed the officers and officials of Irrigation Department to utilize all resources and powers for elimination of water theft without caring any pressure or safarash. He directed to arrest those involved in water theft with the support of DCOs and DPOs of concerned districts. He directed to give names of only few big criminals in the FIRs. He asked the PMI unit to improve its performance in order to curb water theft. The Minister also visited the tale-end of Jaley Ki Distributory and expressed his anguish for non-provision of water at tale-ends and directed to suspend all the staff from top to bottom besides issuing show cause notice to the concerned XEN.