"Various projects initiated by Punjab Government to check the water logging in South West area will prove successful in the days to come", said Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.Anti water logging schemes of worth Rs 960 Crores are under progress, with which 60 thousand hectares of land will be fit for agricultural use. He further added that, with the relining of Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder canal, the seepage can be checked. Also, surface drains, sub surface drainage system, Lift Drainage system will also help in this process.S. Dhillon revealed that, due to this, employment opportunities will increase and the economic status of the population residing in this area will automatically increase which will uplift their way of life. He also added that, the cost of the land will automatically increase, which was down for long. Under these projects 313 villages of Punjab will be benefitted. The health of the domestic animals will also improve with access to green fodder, which will increase the production of the milk.
The irrigation Minister said that, during 90s the water level of Sri Muktsar Sahib and Abohar was 30 feet below the level of the earth but after the construction of Rajasthan Feeder, Sirhind Feeder and also Abohar Canal and Bikaner Canal , the water level increased from 0.2 to 1.0 metre every year , resulted in 2 hectares of land under the effect of seepage.He also highlighted that districts in South West area naming Ferozepur, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Mansa and Sangrur are facing problem of water logging and also the ground water is hard and black in colour, which is unfit for agriculture. He said that water logging has affected farming and the production level in the area. Not only this, water logging and seepage has put a bad effect on farming as well as on infrastructure like Bridges, Buildings, Hospitals and residential buildings.