Punjab Irrigation and Power Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh today issued clear instructions to the department of Irrigation to create a complete check on canal water theft besides ensuring water supply to the tail ends.Rana Gurjeet Singh also warned unscrupulous elements involved in the canal water theft to mend their ways or be ready to face stringent action. “I have received reports regarding canal water theft by some unscrupulous elements with the connivance of some officials of the department. I want to make it clear that I will make surprise visits to check the ground reality and no one will be spared, if found guilty”, said Rana Gurjeet during a meeting with senior officials of Irrigation department here at Hydel Bhawan.Rana Gurjeet Singh further added that those days have gone when people living at the tail-ends of canal would have to yearn for even a drop of water. He said that Captain Amrinder Singh government has been fully committed to end all such discrepancies and during next month he would make surprise visit to various places to personally monitor that whether water has reached till tail-ends or not.
Irrigation Minister asked Mr. K.B.S. Sidhu, Special Chief Secretary (Irrigation) and Mr. J.P. Singh, Chief Engineer Canal to formulate a foolproof strategy to meet the irrigation and water demands for current season besides putting a full stop on water theft. He asked them to launch a toll free help line of the department for people to launch their grievances and complaints besides launching night patrolling to check water theft.Rana Gurjeet Singh asked the officials to make a list of working and abandoned guest houses of Irrigation department. Minister also stressed on identifying the encroached properties of the department and asked to make public the list of encroached properties on the department’s website. He also asked officials and employees of the department to maintain their attendance and perform their duty whole heartedly. He said that he would also make a surprise visit to their offices and work places, and people found absent would not be spared.