October 16, 2006	Monday	Ramazan 22, 1427

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SIALKOT, Oct 15: The laser land leveler technology has been made operational in the Sialkot district after a gap of three years. Sialkot DCO Maj Rizwanullah Baig (retired) told reporters that the Sialkot district government had re-launched the technology by removing all flaws and technical faults of this scheme. While operators had also been appointed to operate these machines.

He said the district government would purchase some 43 new laser land leveler machines at a cost of Rs90 million.

He said every farmer having 25 acres of land and a tractor would be able to use this land leveler technology on rent.

Sialkot EDO (Agriculture) Ehsan Ahmad Leghari and EDO (Finance) Rana Azhar Ali were also present on the occasion.

Reports said that the laser land leveler technology had been non-operational for three consecutive years due to the alleged negligence of officials concerned of the agriculture department and the ill-planning by the former Sialkot district government.

The former district government had introduced the laser technology without a proper planning. For being exposed to vagaries of the weather, all the nine laser land-leveling machines in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial and Pasrur tehils were rusting.

Sources said that only one operator was employed to run nine machines in the entire district while no driver had been recruited for the nine tractors attached to these machines.

Former district nazim Mian Naeem Javaid had ordered a departmental probe against the officials concerned for their alleged slackness in this regard.

Three years ago, the agriculture department had been directed to arrange the staff training for operating the modern machines aimed at giving maximum advantages to growers. But the said probe is yet to be completed.

The then Sialkot district government had introduced the hi-tech laser farm technology in the district to enable farmers to enhance their per acre yield.

The former district nazim had distributed these machines with tractors and scrapers at a special ceremony held at Pakki Kotli in Daska village.

He had said that growers would be able to use the modern technology with the help of trained operators and experts.

The district nazim had also said that machines and tractors would help farmers to enhance their per acre yield from 45 maunds to 55 maunds.

Farmland up to 2,650 acres had been planned to be leveled through the proper use of these machines.

Farmers expressed grave concern over the alleged slackness of officials concerned of the agriculture department. They said the hiring of these machines was expensive and unaffordable at a rent of Rs350 per hour, besides transport expenses.