DERA GHAZI KHAN: Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha has said the restoration of canal infrastructure in the flood-hit areas will be carried out in phases and Dajal Canal, Qutb Drain and Sultan Drain will be repaired immediately.

A large number of farmers from the flood-hit Dajal area of the division had staged a protest on Monday in front of commissioner’ office, demanding restoration of irrigation system, besides provision of seed and fertilisers so that they could sow crops in their fields. The protest was arranged by Jamaat-i-Islami’s Kisan Wing.

The farmers lamented that during the massive flood more than 400 breaches occurred in the canals in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts that needed to be plugged immediately to restore the irrigation system in the flood-hit areas.

Taking notice of a protest, Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha held a meeting with the representatives of the protesting farmers, Allah Bakhsh Korai, Munir Ahmad Kalachi and others, where Irrigation Chief Engineer Syed Sajid Hussain Rizvi, Superintendent Engineers Shaukat Hayat Wirk and Anwar Ali Nadeem were also present.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha has said the restoration of canal infrastructure in the flood-hit

Addressing the meeting, the commissioner said that work would be done in phases to restore the canal system and infrastructure in the flood-affected areas of the division. The meeting decided that the irrigation officials and farmers would work jointly to restore the canal infrastructure in the area.

Mr Chatta took stock of the problems being faced by farmers in the flood-affected areas.

He said the flood-hit Dajl Canal, Qutb Drain and Sultan Drain would be repaired immediately, besides taking all possible measures for restoration of supply of irrigation water to the area.

He said the restoration of canal infrastructure would be carried out in phases, and recommendations would be sent to the government in this regard.

BOAT BRIDGE: Locals have demanded establishment of a temporary boat bridge on the river Indus to provide the shortest route to the people between Rojhan and Rahim Yar Khan districts.

The locals say a makeshift boat bridge is established between Rojhan and RY Khan every year in November and December at Kacha Chauhan in the Indus riverine area so that locals could cross the river and reach the other side through the short route.

However, they say, this year no arrangements have been made to establish the boat bridge during the month of November that is about to end.

They regretted that the district administration and highway department ignored the establishment of boat bridge to facilitate locals.

They have appealed to Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatta and Rajanpur Deputy Commissioner Arif Rahim to order establishment of a temporary bridge on the river Indus at Kacha Chauhan to facilitate the locals.

FISH SEED: The Taunsa Fish Biodiversity Hatchery released fish seed in the river Indus at Taunsa Barrage on Tuesday.

For the growth of fish breeding, a fish biodiversity hatchery has been established at Taunsa Barrage by the fisheries department.

The hatchery breeds fish and release the seed stock into the river Indus on monthly basis. Taunsa Fisheries Assistant Director Manzoor Hussain supervised the release of seed stock comprising some 20,000 baby fish into the river.

Sindhu Bachao Tarla representatives Khadim Hussain Khar, Javed Iqbal Sheikh and others participated in the event.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2022