The Punjab Government today approved a major plan to reline all distributaries in the state in next three years and took path breaking decisions to rejuvenate the whole Irrigation network. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab, accompanied by Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister today reviewed the working of Irrigation Department and said that SAD-BJP Government was fully committed to revitalize the total irrigation network so that the farmers even at the tail end could get proper supply of canal water for irrigation. He said that since last sixty five years Union Government has not sanctioned a single penny for rehabilitation and maintenance of Canal network. Mr. Badal said that due to lack of maintenance of Canal network, the whole system has become silted and choked with weeds, reducing the capacity of canal less than 50%. Mr. Badal said that Punjab Chief Minister had been pleading the Union Government to sanction a special package for rehabilitation of 100 years old Canal system of the state as viability of this system directly proportionate to food security of the country but Union Government has not paid any heed to our repeated pleas.
Approving Rs. 2700 crore for relining of all distributaries of the canals, Mr. Badal said that in future Irrigation Department while tendering these projects should make the construction agency accountable for maintaining that system for next 15 years. He asked the Secretary Irrigation to redraft the tender documents incorporating this clause, in which construction agency would conduct annual maintenance of the canal system, desilting besides deweeding the whole system. He said that tender should also incorporate the clause making construction agency accountable for ensuring supply of water at tail end of the system besides monitoring the usage of Canal Water at different points.
In a major step to augment canal irrigation capacity with ground water irrigation system, Mr. Badal approved 400 deep tube wells and asked the department to ensure its operation and maintenance by the executing agency. The department was also asked to put up a comprehensive plan for total canal system.