LAHORE, Oct 9: The Punjab Assembly on Monday amended the Canal and Drainage Act according to `modern’ realities, says Aamer Sultan Cheema, Punjab Irrigation Minister.

He said that punishment for water theft had been increased to one year imprisonment or a fine of Rs5,000 or both. A new provision has also been introduced in the new law that bars factories from pumping their polluted water into rivers.

Now polluted drainage water also could not be thrown into rivers and canals, according to the new law. The factories would now have to treat water before pushing it into canals. The law should help protect environment along with deterring water theft, he hoped.

Other steps were also being proposed to transfer water management to farmers so that they could develop a sense of ownership and run their own system, he said.

Edhi ambulances: A resolution for allowing parking of Edhi ambulances in government hospitals will be moved in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday.

Dr Asad Ashraf of the PML-N has pointed out in his resolution that Edhi Foundation should be allowed to provide ambulance facilities in government hospitals because it provided free services to the poor and the needy.

Edhi has also the largest fleet of ambulances in the country. He has appealed to the Punjab Assembly members to support the resolution moved in public interest.