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SAHIWAL, Nov 21: An 80-foot wide breach in Gogera division canal near Chak 46/GD on Monday night damaged crops.
Villagers said the breach occurred at midnight which widened to 80 feet within no time. Raitri, Dhari Araaian and Dhari Sialan villagers came under water besides damaging standing crops of potatoes, paddy, vegetables and fodder.
Villages and the irrigation department officials plugged the breach on Tuesday. This is the second breach in the canal within a week. An earlier breach was plugged within two hours.
Noorshah Kissan Committee president Zakir Bral said canal banks had weakened as a result of which they developed breach. The situation speaks volumes for the inefficiency of irrigation department. He claimed the Beldars appointed to look after the bank were employed elsewhere. Most of them worked at the residences of irrigation officers.
On the other hand, the irrigation authorities alleged that a farmer was irrigating his land adjoining the canal through a pipe which caused the breach.
The department would impose penalties on farmers found damaging the banks.
Meanwhile, superintending engineer Tariq Jamil said an inquiry was being held and the officials found negligent would be taken to task.
DENGUE: District health officer has drawn the attention of tehsil nazim for making arrangements for removal of heaps of garbage and stagnant water in the city to check spread of dengue.
The district government has asked for funds from the government for fumigation in the city and its adjoining towns.
Sahiwal DHO Dr Raheel Siddique wrote a letter to the tehsil nazim pointing out breeding grounds of mosquito. He said garbage was being dumped by the municipal employees along the GT Road from Pakpattan Chowk to Katorwala Morr, near the Christian graveyard, the Divisional Public School and the DHQ hospital.
DOWRY LOOTED: Five robbers took away dowry of a girl worth Rs590,000 on Monday night in Chak 57/5-L.
Ghulam Sabir had collected dowry for his daughter. He told police that the bandits entered the house, locked the family members in a room, collected gold ornaments worth Rs390,000, clothes and other valuables worth Rs200,000 and fled firing shots in the air.—Correspondent
