SIALKOT, May 22: The Punjab irrigation department has started working on a plan to save the Bajwat sector’s border villages from erosion because of the Chenab’s changing courses.

To take stock of the situation, Punjab Industries Minister Muhammad Ajmal Cheema, Tehsil Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema and other high-ranking officials visited the affected villages on Thursday.

Briefing the minister at Gangwal-Saddarpura village, Punjab Irrigation Department (Lahore) Chief Engineer Qazi Anwar Ali said more than 4,000 acres agricultural land had been eroded because of the river’s changing courses in Bajwat in the last one year.

He said the department had planned to save these localities on a temporary basis by fixing heavy stones and trees along the river. This was possible only by the local villagers’ cooperation, he added.

He, however, admitted that “there is no permanent solution to this problem.”

The irrigation CE told Dawn that the department had completed a model study from Head Marala to Alexandra Bridge, Lahore, and conducted a survey of the river from Head Marala to Head Khanki. This model study was being tested at a research centre at Nandipur, Gujranwala, he said.

After completion of the testing on June 30, 2003, he said the department would be able to find any solution to erosion near Head Marala.