Check canal water theft, Pb min tells officials

Punjab Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh said today that he had received reports of unscrupulous elements indulging in canal water theft in connivance with officials and warned of strict action.
At a meeting here today, Singh also told officials that there is need to identify the encroached properties of the department and make the list public.
"I have received reports regarding canal water theft by some unscrupulous elements in connivance with some officials of the department. I will make surprise visits to check the ground reality and no one will be spared, if found guilty", Singh said.
The minister also directed officials to launch a toll free help line of the department for people to register their complaints. He also spoke for night patrolling to check incidents of water theft.

Singh said that people living at the tail-end of a canal would now no longer have to yearn for water adding that from the coming month itself he would make surprise visits to see whether water has reached the tail-end of a canal or not.
Singh who also holds the power portfolio asked K B S Sidhu, Special Chief Secretary (Irrigation) and J P Singh, Chief Engineer (Canal) to formulate a foolproof strategy to meet the irrigation and water demands for current season, besides putting a full stop on water theft.
The minister asked the officials to make a list of working and abandoned guest houses of Irrigation department.

He told officials that he would also make surprise visits to their offices and those found absent would not be spared.