FLOOD WATER WILL SOON BE DRAINED OUT FROM AFFECTED AREAS: SECRETARY IRRIGATION

Lahore: On the direction of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, steps are being taken on emergent basis for ensuring drainage of flood water from fields so that agricultural activities could be restored.

This was stated by Secretary Irrigation Punjab Capt. Retd. Saif Anjum while giving briefing to media-men at Civil Secretariat, today. Officials of Irrigation and Agriculture departments were present on the occasion.

Talking to media-men, Saif Anjum told that immediate survey has been conducted in 15 flood-hit districts of the province so that drainage of flood water accumulated in low-lying areas and fields could be ensured at the earliest. He told that on the direction of Punjab government, special teams consisting of representatives of irrigation, agriculture and C&W departments, headed by DCOs of flood-hit districts, were constituted to carryout survey which proposed drainage of flood water from 69820 acres of land in 338 villages. He told that according to the irrigation experts, flood water will be drained out from 32346 acres of land through rivers, 29988 acres of land through rainy nullahs while 7486 acres of land through pumping.

Secretary Irrigation further told that supply of water has been restored by filling the breaches in Rasul-Qadirabad Link Canal, Lower Chenab Canal, Upper Gogira Canal, Qadirabad-Balloki Link Canal, Trimmu Sidhnai Canal and Haveli Main Canal during last three days. He said that according to the plan, water supply in BRB Canal and Marala-Ravi Link Canal will be restored by December 27, while Rangpur Canal by December 30.

Saif Anjum said that Irrigation Department is working round the clock for rehabilitation of canal infrastructure so that agricultural activities could be started at the earliest.