Water theft hits tail-end farmers

Cultivators accuse local influentials and irrigation staff of stealing water

RAHIM YAR KHAN: The canals originating from Head 86 provide water to fields situated on a vast area in Khanpur Tehsil’s Bagh-o-Bahar area. However, influential landlords, in collusion with irrigation department officials, are allegedly involved in water theft.

The process of stealing water by planting tubes has been underway for the last few years. The cultivators and others affected by these illegal developments have demanded authorities concerned take immediate notice of the situation and order appropriate action against those involved in it.

While speaking to Express News, cultivators and farmers said Irrigation Department Sub-Engineer Malik Khadim Hussein is looking after the supply of water to the fields in the area. They alleged that Khadim Hussain, in collusion with influential landlords, is engaged in water theft.



They added the sub-engineer has remained on this post for quite a while and has good relations with the local landlords. They pointed out: “Whenever he is found involved in water theft, the area influentials come to his rescue.”

They said that if an honest officer comes to check the situation on a complaint, Sub-Engineer Khadim Husain and his companions Manzoor and Baildar Muhammad Sajid immediately inform powerful water thieves who reach the spot to harass the officer.

“Along with planting tubes, the canals have been cut for stealing water,” one of them complained.

The farmers maintained that water theft is destroying the crops of tail end cultivators and the land is becoming barren. They added small cultivators are forced to sell their land at a cheap rate to influential landlords.

Several farmers, including Muhammad Arshad, Muhammad Dilshad, Rafiq Ahmed, Muhammad Sarwar, Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Sultan, Muhammad Nazeer, Ashiq Hussain, Muhammad Siddiq and others, who have been affected by the situation, said that as long as the accused officials are on duty, water theft cannot be stopped.

They demanded the government suspend the officials and an unbiased investigation be carried out so that the process of water theft can be stopped and the share of the cultivators affected can be given to them.

Meanwhile, when Express News contacted Malik Khadim Hussain, he denied allegations leveled against him. “It is impossible to check all canals in such hot weather as I am a heart patient.”

He added that due to the scarcity of water, it is being released with a delay. “Resultantly, the landlords have planted tubes to steal water. We have sent complaints against them to higher officials,” he added.

Earlier, the Punjab irrigation department implemented a plan to modernise its measurement and communication systems by installing sensors to monitor real-time water flow in the channels under its command.

Started with technical and financial assistance from the World Bank in the previous financial year, the project envisages installing sensors to monitor real-time flow on its barrages, canals and distributaries, with the prime target of curbing canal water theft.

The Eastern Sadiqia canal system in Bahawalnagar district has been selected as a pilot project for the purpose. Dr Muhammad Riaz, director of the project management and implementation unit, said the canal system has been selected for an area which is notorious for water theft.

About the project, he argues that the phased implementation will help gauge the acceptance of the system by farmers; the real beneficiaries of the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2018.