Wednesday 23 November 2011

Elections of CRBC FOs at Taunsa

PIDA has announced the elections schedule of 30 Fos  in Chashma Right Bank Canal circle at Taunsa,D G Khan after the approval of Managing Director. The FOs at CRBC have completed their three years tenure and now the arrangements are being made for the second tenure. The General Manager (TM ) Syed Faiz Muhayud Din has issued instructions to the concerned staff to complete the whole process of elections as per scheduled time so that the FOs be transferred irrigation management. 

Advance Trainings for Management Committees of FOs Completed

The Training & Capacity Building Cell of Lower Chenab Canal (East) Area Water Board,  Faisalabad has successfully completed  the AdvanceTrainings program for the Management committees of Farmers Organizations. Under this program, the Training cell conducted 21 training sessions in which all the  management committees members of Fos participated. The participants were given lectures on  technical and revenue matters including the principles of canal management in detail.
The Chief Executive LCC (East) AWB and Mr. Susumu Uciumi, JICA representative also visited the training session at Bhagat canal rest house and appreciated the interest of the participants in training program.
Earlier, PIDA has also provided the Foundation Trainings to the General Body members of all theFOs. It is expected that all the Farmers Organizations would be better able to perform their functions under participatory irrigation management model. 

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Progress Review Meeting at Sargodha

The General Manager (Op) Ch. Karamat Ali convened a progress review meeting with the administrators of six under reforms distributaries at Lower Jehlum Canal Circle Sargodha.  The FOs of these distributaries have completed their three years tenure and now being controlled by administrators.
While discussing the progress, the General Manager was informed that the overall progress of 5 FOs out of 6 has been very good. These FOs have collected 93% Abiana amount during their three years tenure.  The General Manager observed that the progress of Abiana collection on Hujjan distributary was not up to the mark (72% for Kharif 2010 and 48% for Rabi 2010-11). He directed the concerned Administrator to coordinate with the concerned staff and ensure 85% and 80% Abiana collection of the both crops respectively.
The meeting also discussed in detail the status of water delivery and tails position. The water supply and the condition of outlets were found accurate according to the produced record. The tail position for last Kharif crop was perused and it was observed that all the tails were running as per authorized discharge.
The General Manager (Op) also discussed the audit observations related to the FOs and directed the Chief Executive LJC to look into the matter and do the needful for the betterment of participatory irrigation management system. He also expressed his serious concerns over the poor performance of revenue staff attached with FOs from PID and directed to take the strict action. To recover the pending Abiana amounts, the Ch. Karamat Ali advised that the cooperation of Police and Civil Administration may be sought.           

Monday 14 November 2011

Operationalization of FOs in LBDCIP Sahiwal

Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority has constituted as many as 51 Farmers Organizations in Lower Bari Doab Canal System. These FOs will be responsible for the maitaining of canals in their respective areas under public private partnership.
In this regard, a departmental meeting was held in the office of PIDA with General Manager (TM) Syed Faiz Muhayudin in the Chair. Among others,General Manager (OP) Ch. Karamat Ali, General Manager (Finance) Asif Sohail, Deputy General Manager(TM) NajmusSaqib Rehmani, Deputy General Manager (SM) Shaiq Hussain Abdi and the Project Director Lower Bari Doab Canal Improvement Project Syed Mehmood ul Hasan Shah also attended the meeting.
The meeting held a detailed review of arrangements of transferring irrigation management to the farmers organizations in the LBDC system. The Program Director LBDCIP briefed the meeting about operationalization of FOs and told that agreement-deeds of Irrigation Management Transfer have been arranged. Similarly, arrangements of the setting-up of offices for FOs and provision of staff have also been completed. The meeting proposed that Irrigation Management Units of FOs in the Area Water Board of LBDC should be constituted in such a way which could provide the maximum benefite to the farmers.
The meeting expressed the satisfaction that the public private partnership has given confidence to the farmers and now they are fully involved in the irrigation management.

JICA appreciates PIDA efforts on water saving technologies

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will continue the financial and technical cooperation with Punjab for the improvement of irrigation system to fulfill the water needs of irrigators.
it was stated by the representative of JICA Mr. Dysokay Kawata in a meeting held in the office of Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority. the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress on the program "Introduction of Water Saving Technologies" launched in Punjab for the better management of irrigation water.
The meeting was attended by the Technical Advisor JICA Muhammad Aslam Qureshi, Deputy General Manager(TM) PIDA NajmusSaqib Rehmani, Deputy General Manager(SM) Shaiq Hussain Abdi, the representatives of Development Consultant Services and the officers of Agriculture Department.
Mr. Kawata told the meeting that JICA is preparing necessary training material for farmers to sensitize them about the water saving technologies which would be delivered soon. The training material will help the farmers to successfully practice the water saving technologies on sustainable basis to curtail water shortage. He also appreciated the implementation mechanism of PIDA for the said program and ensured to continue the cooperation of JICA for the welfare of farmers.  
The Technical Advisor JICA Muhammad Aslam Qureshi told that Water Saving Technologies Program has been launched in Faisalabad, DG Khan and Bahawalanagardistricts at three distrbutaries on pilot basis where PIDA teams are introducing the laser land leveling, bed & furrow, sprinkle, tunnel and drip irrigation system through demonstration. Besides 50 percent water saving through latest technologies, farmer's income also has increased due to enhanced agro production.