LAHORE, Feb 20: The provincial government released on Friday water in the non-perennial canals, especially in the southern Punjab, for the wheat crop. This was announced by Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi while presiding over a meeting here.

He said the water released on Friday was saved through a better planning for the wheat crop. It would save money of farmers which they would have to spend for running tubewells during this period.

He said now water would also reach the tail ends of canals, increasing the productivity of wheat and fulfilling the need of the country. The chief minister said through better management and planning the province had saved water which used to go waste in the past. Release of water in the six-monthly canals would help improve the economic condition of farmers, he added.

He said water was stored in dams to ensure its release between Feb 16 and March 5. The government was planning to brickline channels to prevent seepage of water with the help of world donor agencies.

Mr Elahi said planning was also being made to provide canal water in the brackish-water areas of south Punjab. The meeting was attended, among others, by Irrigation Minister Amer Sultan Cheema, adviser Jehangir Tareen and irrigation secretary Javed Majid.