Following is an unheard of episode in the irrigation department of Punjab wherein a month ago the bank of MBL canal of Deda Chak police check post Kasoor breached due to negligence of SDO concerned who got registered a FIR against some 200 farmers down the line, who are running from pillar to post to save their skin without any fault on their part as no farmer has the capability to attempt water theft from a large volume canal.
In fact, as the departmental staff is involved in tree-cutting by theft and lack of maintenance of Kacha side road serving as a dyke that has been reduced from a normal width of 25 to 30 ft to 7 to 9 feet. The department has failed to take timely action to maintain the canal bank road resulting in major breaches of which the onus is being wrongly thrust upon the farmers downstream. This high-handed attitude of irrigation department ought to be taken notice of by the CM Punjab as the public is suffering at the hands of inept officials.
DR MUHAMMAD YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
