Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Minister Shruti Choudhry has directed officials to ensure adequate irrigation facilities across the state during the ongoing rabi season, stressing that farmers should not face water shortages that could disrupt crop sowing.
Chairing a review meeting in Chandigarh on Wednesday, November 4, Choudhry said the state government was committed to ensuring that farmers in every region received their rightful share of canal water despite limited availability.
She said the department was reviewing the water distribution system and keeping a close watch on canal supplies to ensure their proper allocation.
Focus On Canal Water Theft And Monitoring
The minister asked officials to examine existing records and established criteria for water allocation. She also called for periodic reviews based on water availability, the area under irrigation and farmers’ requirements.
Emphasising the need to prevent canal water theft, Choudhry directed the department to strengthen monitoring and raise public awareness. She said local participation should be encouraged to help curb the illegal diversion of water.
The meeting also reviewed flood-control measures, pending approvals from the Forest Department, land demarcation and the availability of pumps.
Faster Clearances And Better Pumping Facilities
Choudhry said development and irrigation projects should not face unnecessary delays because of pending forest-related approvals. She asked officials to coordinate with the departments concerned and expedite the clearance of pending cases.
She also stressed the need for uninterrupted power supply to ensure the smooth functioning of irrigation projects and pumping systems.
Reviewing the availability of pumps in the Yamuna Water Services (YWS) Circle, the minister directed officials to assess the actual requirement and speed up their procurement, repair or availability, as needed.
She said timely action was necessary to ensure that farmers did not face difficulties in accessing water for irrigation during the rabi season.
Additional Chief Secretary of the Irrigation and Water Resources Department Anurag Aggarwal and Engineer-in-Chief Rakesh Chauhan were among the senior officials present at the meeting.
