The Irrigation Department, Punjab is pulling out all stops to ensure that the farming community of Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib Districts gets full supply of water from Sirhind Feeder canal for irrigational purposes.Disclosing this, Irrigation Minister, Punjab, Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon today said that Sirhind Feeder derives water from Harike head-works and is supplying irrigation water in the Faridkot, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Sri Muktsar Sahib Districts of Punjab. This canal was proposed to be cleaned in the month of April, 2016 after taking NOC from Government of Rajasthan. However, Government of Rajasthan did not allow the closure of canal for cleaning. In the meanwhile, Department of Agriculture, Punjab, also insisted that the canal should not be closed for cleaning and water supply should continue in the month of April; on account of early sowing of cotton as a measure to thwart the threat of while fly. Since the Sirhind Feeder Canal could not be cleaned therefore due to silting of the canal the water carrying capacity reduced by about 20% at the head of canal.
Mr. Sharanjit Singh Dhillon in a meeting with officials of the Department of Irrigation to take stock of situation directed the officials to take all possible measures to tide over the crisis.He directed that a Team of senior engineers of the Irrigation Department headed by Chief Engineer, Canal should be stationed at the Sirhind Feeder to take all possible technical measures. In addition, it was decided that wet dredging of the canal for de-silting in running water may be resorted to. In the meanwhile, the Department has put the teams on alert to ensure that no farmer draws more than authorized share of water from the water channels by altering outlets. In addition, water is being supplied in various canals being fed from Sirhind Feeder on rotation basis.The Secretary, Irrigation, Punjab, Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu elaborated that in the meanwhile, Government of Rajasthan has been requested to allow the re-opening of a cut near Bhullar Head so that the water of Punjab share could be routed through Rajasthan Feeder into the downstream of Sirhind Feeder so that adequate water supply could be assured in Abohar, Fazilka and Muktsar Area of Punjab.