LAHORE, Sept 16: The Punjab would continue to draw water from reservoirs up to Sept 25 instead of earlier plan of Sept 10 to provide maximum water to Kharif crops, especially cotton, the provincial assembly was told on Thursday.
Replying to a supplementary question during the question hour, Irrigation Minister Amir Sultan Cheema said the supply of water from dams would be suspended after Sept 25 and only run of river used for irrigation.
He said the water management plan would be revised after Sept 30 according to the situation at that time. Water would be supplied to all areas without any discrimination, he added.
Mr Cheema said at least 4maf water would be available for wheat sowing. About the Punjab irrigation secretary's letter to Irsa, the minister said it was aimed at correcting minutes of an Irsa meeting held on Sept 6.
He denied that the Punjab's representatives had failed to pursue the province's case at the meeting, as alleged by PPP's Samiullah Khan, and the letter was meant for rectifying that.
Dr Javed Siddiqui, who had staged walkout on the issue on Wednesday, urged that southern Punjab should be provided maximum water so that the cotton crop worth millions of rupees could be harvested.
He said the farmers of the area would then in return sacrifice their share of water for wheat growers in Rabi season. Law minister Raja Basharat said the suggestion was not serious and had come from the person, who did not listen to point of view of others.
MMA's Dr Waseem Akhtar asked whether concession in water rate would be given to the farmers, who would be hit by the water shortage. He was told that a decision to this effect would be taken at an appropriate time.
Earlier, the house was told that 35 to 40 per cent irrigation water went wasted owing to deteriorated canal system and seepage. Thus out of 55.94maf water allocated to the Punjab for the whole year, only 36.37maf water reaches fields.
To improve the situation, canals and barrages are being remodelled, and flood management is being done in Potohar and Dera Ghazi Khan mountains. Mr Cheema told a questioner that water theft was the actual problem and the government was working hard to fight it. He said water monitoring committees had been formed, besides functioning of patrol teams comprising irrigation staff and police.
FCC bill: The Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed the Forman Christian College Lahore bill to grant university status to the institution.
