Punjab Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Pida) has dissolved 70 farmer organisations in the Area Water Boards of Lower Jhelum Canal Circle and Lower Chenab Canal (West) Circle after the expiry of their three-year tenure. The new FOs in these areas will be constituted in the light of Pida rules through elections.
This was stated by General Manager Pida, Syed Zahid Ali here on Monday. He directed the Area Water Board Chief Executives to appoint administrators without any delay so that the water needs of farmers could be fully met. He also directed to freeze the bank accounts of Farmer Organisations and added that these accounts could only be utilised for the payment of staff salaries and emergent duties.
The GM Pida further said that the staff of Farmer Organisations should continue their work and office record should also be kept up-to-date so that it could help the new FOs as well as serve the Audit purposes. He also said that new election schedule of FOs should be sent to higher authorities on priority basis. Syed Zahid Ali further said that water charges should be received from the chairmen of Khal Panchayat and be deposited with the FO accounts. Departmental strategy should also be devised for the recovery of arrears of water charges, he concluded.