Removal of sand from canals banned

Removing sand from all the canals of Punjab has been banned and now no contract would be awarded in future in this regard. Furthermore, in future Irrigation Department would be responsible for controlling the canals through Mines and Mineral Development (MMD) Department. This was disclosed by Senior Provincial Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed here, on Saturday.
He further said that proper legislation in this connection would be undertaken in Punjab Assembly and now Irrigation Department would be solely responsible for canals. He said that ban on sand desilting would help maintain and preserve canals and ultimately help the cultivators, too. He told that now concerned Chief Engineer as per requirement would request Mines Deptt to desilt sand in specific area of some canal. Similarly, every Chief Engineer would be held responsible in case of theft of sand from canals in his respective area.