Allocation for desilting increased by 110%

LAHORE:

The government has increased funds allocated for the annual desilting campaign by 110 per cent, Irrigation Minister Mian Yawar Zaman said on Monday.

Chairing a departmental meeting at the Irrigation Department, Zaman said that Rs207 million was allocated in 2014 for the drive. “Rs426 million will be spent on desilting of canals in the province in 2015. In all, 822 perennial and non-perennial canals will be desilted. Desilting is important to ensure that sufficient water reaches all irrigated areas,” he said.

“Rs184 million will be spent on desilting of perennial canals and Rs242 million on desilting of non-perennial canals in 2015. Desilting will be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, perennial canals will be desilted by January 31, 2015. The desilting of non-perennial canals will end on April 15, 2015,” he said.

The minister said farmers should cooperate with the department in its desilting campaign. Zaman said that he would monitor the process. “Stern action will be taken against officers showing negligence. A third party audit will check the quality of work during the desilting campaign,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2014.