20000314

Canals in Punjab

flowing below

capacity

LAHORE: The perennial canals in the Punjab are flowing at 25 percent to 30 percent below their capacity due to shortage of water in the dams, said a spokesman for the Punjab Agriculture Department here on Monday.

He said the water could not be released in the non-perennial canals in the prevailing circumstances, and observed that it was necessary to utilise the available water properly.

Farmers should contact the executive engineers of the Irrigation Department and deputy directors of the Agriculture Department of their respective areas for information about the 'canal warabandi' (canal rotation), he advised.

He said canal rotations in various areas of the province were fixed in such a manner that full water allowance would be available in distributaries and minors on rotation, respectively.

The spokesman said that farmers should ensure that their turn for irrigation was not missed during the crucial period of wheat crop growth.ÑAPP