LCC(West) Area Water Board Meeting at Faisalabad

The Chairman Area Water Board, Lower Chenab Canal (West) Circle Faisalabad Malik Shamsher Khan has advised the AWB members to actively monitor the activities of canal managemen so the irrigation infrastructure could remain sustainable. It was stated by him addressing the 7^th  Area Water Board meeting in which General Manager (OP) Ch. Karamat Ali, Chief Executive LLC(West) AWB Inayat Ullah Cheema, concerned Executive Engineers/FO Administrators and the Managers participated.

The Chairman formed a works committee headed by Vice Chairman AWB which will monitor all the rehabilitation works on distributaries. He also said to the FO Administrators to inform the works committee about the details of repair & maintenance works  for the effective monitoring.

While reviewing the status of Abiana, the General Manager (OP) advised to collect  75%  amount of Rabi crop season 2010-11. The meeting also decided to ensure 100% Abiana collection against each crop within due course of time. He maintained that the farmers have been given participation in irrigation management to improve Abiana recovery, repair & maintenance of canals and equitable distribution of water  to gain increase in agro production.

Progress Review Meeting on PISIP-SIAP Activities

A delegation of Japan International Cooperation Agency held a meeting with PIDA management to review the progress on different activities under Punjab Irrigation System Improvement Project started on three different sites. The JICA delegation was consisting on Ms. Kayama Mitsuru and Mr. Amir Bukhari while Deputy General Manager (TM ) Najmus Saqib Rehmani, Deputy General Manager (SM) Shaiq Hussain Abdi and Manager (SM/Trainings) Manzoor Ahmed Siddiqui attended from PIDA.

The meeting was told that the institutional reforms activities in DG Khan, Bahawalnagar and Faisalabad are under way according to the scheduled time frame.  The formation process of FOs has been completed in all the selected areas and the irrigation management also has been transferred. The capacity building of FOs program is underway. The JICA delegation expressed satisfaction over the reforms process and urged that the FOs be given technical assistance more vigorously so that they could manage the irrigation system independently.    

Use of Digital Technology for Irrigation Water Saving

PIDA will utilize modern digital technology to sensitize farmers about various water saving techniques and increase in the per acre yield. For this purpose, Japan International Cooperation Agency has agreed to provide necessary support and technical assistance to PIDA for augmenting the water saving drive through farmers organizations.

It was decided in a meeting among PIDA officers and JICA representatives while reviewing the progress of "Strengthening Irrigated Agriculture through Participatory Irrigation Management" Project. The meeting observed that the expert use of modern digital technology was need of the hour. The FOs can play a remarkable role for the introduction of water saving technologies by mobilizing the farmers in their areas. The JICA representative Mr. Kanamori told the meeting that he had prepared a documentary for the farmers which would be shown to sensitize them about various methods of water conservation during agriculture activities.