Mann inspects Malwa canal’s proposed site in Gidderbaha
Archit Watts
Doda (Gidderbaha), July 27
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited Doda village in Gidderbaha Assembly segment today to take stock of a technical survey of the proposed Malwa canal.
Mann claimed this would be the first canal to be built in the state after the country’s Independence. The 149-km-long, 50-foot- wide and 12.5-foot-deep canal would have 2,000 cusecs capacity. It would be able to irrigate 2 lakh acres and would directly benefit 62 villages in Muktsar, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts
The canal will originate from the Harike barrage and is proposed to be constructed on the unutilised land of Rajasthan on the left side of Rajasthan Feeder Canal. Besides, nearly half of the total 1,328 acres required for the canal will be acquired from farmers.
After inspecting the proposed canal’s site here and water lifting pumps installed by farmers along the Sirhind Feeder canal, Bhagwant Mann told the gathering that he was surprised why the previous government could not take up this much-needed project.
“I have been aware of the plight of the farmers of this area since the time I was not even a politician. I used to stop along the Rajasthan feeder and Sirhind feeder canals for lunch after my performance as an artiste in this area. Farmers used to tell me that despite having these canals, they faced acute shortage of water for irrigating their fields. This is why immediately after getting elected, I asked the department officials to start work on the construction of this canal. It will become a reality in the next six-eight months. Then you will not have to run water lifting pumps and burn diesel to irrigate your fields,” said Mann. “I want to ask the MP (Harsimrat), who was yesterday speaking about the royalty of Punjab’s waters in the Lok Sabha, what she did during her tenure as a minister in the Modi government,” he said.
“I will soon give you some good news as I have got documents of Sukhvilas owned by the Badals,” he added.
To benefit 62 villages
The Chief Minister claimed that this would be the first canal to be built in the state after the country’s Independence. The 149-km-long, 50-foot- wide and 12.5-foot-deep canal would have 2,000 cusecs capacity. It would be able to irrigate 2 lakh acres and would directly benefit 62 villages in Muktsar, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts
Anganwadi workers detained
Anganwadi workers, led by their union leader and president of Istri Akali Dal Hargobind Kaur, who wanted to meet the CM regarding the alleged substandard food being provided to children, pregnant and lactating women through the anganwadi centres, were detained at the Kotbhai police station on Saturday. They raised slogans against the govt
