FAISALABAD, Dec 14: A joint team of police and the irrigation department removed three direct outlets on the Lower Gogera Branch Canal at RD-285, RD-252 and RD-237 in the limits of Tarkhani police on Sunday.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of the Lower Chenab Canal East superintendent engineer and the Samundri DSP. Dozens of policemen and Elite Force jawans took part in the operation.

The raiding team found a complete network of over two-foot diameter pipes, brick-lined sumps and pucca courses which was dismantled with the help of cranes, bulldozers and other machinery.

The irrigation department has taken all pipes and implements used in water theft in possession, and is said to be engaged in working out the losses and identifying those involved in it.

The water outlets had been in operation since 1997, and all efforts to remove them had failed. The water theft continued unchecked during the last six years despite protest by farmers.

An attempt to remove these outlets was also made a couple of weeks ago, but to no avail.

Illegal outlets drew a discharge of 35 cusecs which is stated to be sufficient to irrigate over 13,000 acres, and the water dues run into over Rs15 million annually.