The Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority (PIDA) has decided to regularize the services of its contract employees engaged in implementing the irrigation sector reforms program in Punjab. The Authority also directed PIDA Managing Director to prepare a comprehensive plan in this regard, to be presented in the next meeting planned on Wednesday March11, 2015.
It was decided in the 48th PIDA meeting held here on Friday with Minister for Irrigation Mian Yawar Zaman in the chair. Managing Director PIDA Saif Anjum, farmer members including Mian Muhammad Rafiq, Sajjad Haider Gujjar, Rao Kashif Rahim, Rana Abdul Rauf, Arshad Khan Lodhi, Samina Noor and General Manager (TM) Khawar Nazeer, General Manager (OP) Muhammad Tariq and Secretary PIDA Muhammad Afzal Toor attended the meeting.
The Authority gave formal approval to PIDA budget for the financial year 2014-15, PIDA (Delegation of Powers) Regulations 2014, posts for PIDA staff under authority mode and allowances for PIDA employees. The Authority also accorded approval to repeal PIDA Farmers Organisations Financial Regulations 2011 and Irrigation Management Transfer Agreement 2011.
The meeting directed PIDA Sub-Committee to propose necessary amendments in Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority Act, 1997 to further improve irrigation service delivery. The Minister, while addressing the meeting, said that Punjab Government is making all-out efforts to strengthen participatory irrigation system by making the farmer organisations more proactive. He directed the PIDA management to prepare and implement capacity building programs for FOs and improve the audit mechanism to ensure transparency.