BAHAWALPUR: South Punjab Irrigation Secretary Aamir Khattak says canal water thieves will be dealt with an iron hand in Bahawalpur and others areas of the region.

He held out the assurance at a meeting with MPA Masood Ahmed of Liaquatpur, Sardar Nazir Khan Chandio, a former PTI candidate for PP-256 (Rahim Yar Khan district) and ex-UC nazim, and Ghulam Moeenuddin, member district Baitul Maal committee, Rahim Yar Khan. The delegation pointed out to the secretary that the farmers of Pakka Laran canal minor were adversely affected owing to the scarcity of canal water in the area.

They alleged that several influential people of the area including a ruling party MPA were involved in the canal water theft. He was depriving the tillers of their share of water at the tail ends, they said and demanded that the illegal water outlets in the Minchin canal branch at Pakkan Laran area of Rahim Yar Khan be plugged.

Complainant Ghulam Moeenuddin told Dawn that he had earlier brought the issue to the notice of Bahawalpur irrigation zone chief engineer Khalid Bashir but the chief engineer’s staff despite assurance could not stop the irrigation water theft and no action could be taken against the suspects.

The secretary irrigation who assumed charge last week, said strict action would be taken against those involved in canal water theft across south Punjab and he would soon interact with the media to announce his broad-based policy in this respect. Besides, he said, a scheme was on the anvil to tackle the erosion of river Sindh in the areas of Chahran Sharif in Rahim Yar Khan district.

GANGS: The district police claim to have smashed four inter-district gangs of robbers and recovered 26 stolen motorcycles and other valuables, says a press release.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2021