LAHORE, Nov 30: The Punjab government has started imposing Abiana flat rates on the farmers, it is learnt.

According to official sources, Irrigation Department officials did not conduct a survey of the crops during the Rabi season which started in October because they had been directed to impose Abiana flat rates.

“Under the new method, the government will collect Abiana on a fixed-charge basis. A farmer or a land owner now will have to pay water tax on all land possessed by him instead of the cultivated land.”

The provincial cabinet had decided a couple of months ago to impose flat rates on irrigated lands instead of collecting water charges on crop basis.

Under the new system, water charges at the rate of Rs50 and Rs85 per acre during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively, have been fixed. The previuos rates were Rs95 and Rs75 per acre, respectively.

The government claims the new formula would only affect big land-holders who are not paying water charges in connivance with the officials concerned.

The World Bank had asked the government to eliminate rampant corruption in the Punjab Irrigation and Power Department, make the Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority an independent body and hand over the canal system to the farming community.—PPI