"The participatory canal system would prove to be farmer-friendly as well as a milestone in increasing agricultural produce", said the Consultant, Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Pida), Dr Dil Muhammad on Friday.
Pida Director, the former Principal, Law College Punjab University, said this while addressing as the chief guest at a training workshop for the members of Area Water Board LLC (East), held under the aegis of Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority (PIDA).
He said that institutional reforms introduced in the canal system had curbed the red-tap trend and for the first time in the history of Pakistan, farmers' organisations had been given autonomy to operate the system.
Dr Muhammad said that canal network in Pakistan was stronger than Turkey, Mexico, Philippine, India and Japan and it has given a platform to the farmers' organisations for taking their own decisions by delegating them powers of XEN that will help reduce their problems.
Talking about the responsibilities of the area water board, the Consultant Revenue, Muhammad Shafi said that it comprises 19 members and 10 out of them are farmers while nine are non-farmers. The Secretary, Pida while addressing the workshop, said that the Area Water Board plays the advisory role in this process.
To a question he said that PC-I has been approved for the Area Board building, which will cost Rs 50 million. The Director, Social Environment Management Unit, Dr Muhammad Ramazan said that the agro-production is badly affected by release of polluted industrial wastewater in canals. Further, he said that the area water board should pay special attention to this issue and take necessary measures for protecting ground water from being polluted.