Abohar, April 6: The Punjab Government has come under fire for failing to check the contamination of canal water. Abohar canal circle farmers complained that the water flowing through all the minors (sub canals) for the past few days had been black in colour. Officials were unable to explain the situation but insiders said reserves released from the Pong Dam into the Sirhind Feeder canal carried residues that had settled in the past few weeks.
Others feared that water from the water disposal system in industrial towns had got mixed with the canal water.The state irrigation authorities on Thursday confirmed that the canal system was to be closed on April 7 for the next two weeks as sub-canals needed to be cleaned to make water available to the tail-end villages for the sowing of cotton. Officials said the state government had not given funds to take up the repair work.
Kisan Sangharsh Samiti spokesman Subhash Sehgal said a deputation had apprised Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje of unchecked pollution in water being supplied by Punjab to Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts.
She said she would take up the matter with the Punjab Government.Sriganganagar District Collector Gyana Ram said Water Resources and Health Department officials had been told to get samples of canal water tested.
The Indira Gandhi Canal that emanates from the Harike Barrage in Punjab has been closed for about two months to take up the relining work.Rural water works in Abohar subdivision has got only three-day stock to supply drinking water. Farmers on Thursday urged the authorities to not store black water as there was no proper arrangement for filtering it in most of the rural water works.
Source Tribune India
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