FAISALABAD: Dozens of farmers are facing numerous problems in cultivating and irrigating their crops as the Rakh branch canal is closed for two months due to construction of two underpasses.

The canal has been closed since Jan 13 on the request of the district government, which is seeking a one-month extension to complete construction work.

Najeebullah, a resident of Chak Seeplan, Gojra, a village at the tail of Rakh branch, told Dawn majority of farmers did not have alternative means to irrigate or cultivate crops. He said the closure of the canal for two months had created numerous problems for them, as “neither we could irrigate our crops on time nor arrange sweet water for our animals”.

He said delay in the restoration of water supply would land farmers in a difficult situation and they would face a financial crisis owing to the “ill-conceived planning” of the district government.

“From parliamentarians to government officials, we have knocked everyone’s door to sensitise them about the miseries of farmers, however, they seem uninterested in resolving our issues. Why had farmers associations not been taken into confidence prior to the closure of the canal?” he asked.

Najeebullah said the government must take stock of the situation and move against the officers who had decided to close the canal without proper planning.

A PML-N lawmaker requesting anonymity told Dawn that on the one hand farmers were struggling for payment of their crop pending with sugar mills and on the other the canal closure had delayed cultivation. He said construction of underpasses was necessary for the district, but not at the cost of interests of the farming community.

“I am avoiding visiting my constituency or taking calls of my voters because I am unable to explain to them when the canal will be opened,” he added. The lawmaker said farmers were blaming them for not stepping in to help resolve their issue.

Former state minister for privatisation, Rana Asif Touseef, who belongs to an affected area, told Dawn the canal had been closed by force by the district government without seeking any approval from the irrigation department, which was condemnable. He said the government had been hurting farmers in the name of development work.

“It’s a financial slaughter of the farmers by the district government. The construction work was initiated without providing alternative sources of irrigation. The recent spell of rains provided a brief relief to the farmers, however, delay in restoration of water supply will delay the cultivation of paddy and sugarcane crops.”

He said farmers would come on the roads if the irrigation department did not open the canal.

“First, farmers were told the canal will be opened in the last week of February, then first week of March and now April 1. Instead of giving the correct date, officials have been betraying the farmers,” he alleged.

An irrigation officer, wishing not to be named, said the district government was responsible for the delay in restoration of the canal supply, while officials were being pursued to finish the work as soon as possible.

Commissioner Tasneem Nawaz said the district government had been directed to complete construction of the walls along with the canal through three shifts so the canal could be opened by April 1.

District Coordination Officer Noorul Ameen Mengal said officials of the district works department had been deputed for the completion of walls with the canal. He said the construction work was being monitored.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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