TOBA TEK SINGH: Farmers have demanded that the irrigation department timely complete the desilting of Jhang branch canal.
The canal irrigating most of the farmlands of the districts of Jhang and Toba Tek Singh is closed from Jan 27 till Feb 4 for annual desilting. Whenever in the past it had been closed for a week or 10 days, the department allegedly violated the given schedule and it took several weeks for release of water in the canal.
Jhang district’s subsoil water is potable so farmers and residents used tube-wells [water] but dozens of tail-end villages are located in an area in Toba Tek Singh where underground water is brackish and can’t be used for drinking purposes. Villagers [at tail-end] are facing drinking water shortage and they are forced to fetch water from far-flung areas located in Jhang district.
Even in Toba city, various localities are short of water supply.
Meanwhile, Awami Workers Party leader Muhammad Naeem Fateh said in a press release that the irrigation department should fulfil its promise to open Jhang branch canal on schedule date (Feb 4) otherwise farmers will be forced to take to the streets.
Faisalabad Irrigation Chief Engineer Riaz Shahid and Jhang Superintending Engineer Rashid Aziz visited Jhang branch canal in Toba Tek Singh district on Monday and directed the staff to complete desiltation and repair work within the fixed period so that water could be released on the given date.
Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2021
