Progress Review Meeting at LBDCIP Sahiwal

The Deputy General Manager (TM) Mr. Afzal Anjum Toor held a visit in the area of Lower Bari Doab Canal Improvement Project, Sahiwal to observe the issues of Farmers Organizations, after Irrigation Management Transfer agreement. During the first meeting, the Presidents of FOs 2/L, 2/R, 2R/A and Jandraka participated. The Program Director LBDCIP, Mr. Javed Akhtar was also present in the meeting.

While depicting the problems, Mr. Shahid Habib, President FO 2/L informed that there had not been conducted any training session for the capacity building of FOs before or after their operationalization. Resultantly, they are unable to perform as per requirement. Similarly, there have not been allocated offices for them to rum their business smoothly. He also pointed out the poor cooperation of Police in registering the FIRs against water theft delinquents. The issue of lack in coordination among FOs and PID staff was also discussed which is creating hurdles in service delivery. The Presidents also demanded for the inventory of assets from PID. They also informed that no seed money had been provided to FOs for purchase of stationery and office furnisher. The participants also discussed the reasons of delay in Abiana collection.

 In response to the issues raised by FOs representatives, Deputy General Manager (TM) ensured them to expedite the process of their capacity building program so that they could be able to perform their functions efficiently. He also expressed to present the Farmers related issues before the management of PIDA for further policy framing. 

After detailed session with FOs, he also conducted a separate meeting with the staff of LBDCIP in which he was briefed about the reforms implementation. The staff also told him about the hindrances, in the way of reforms implementation. He also conducted a field visit on water channels with staff and FOs representatives.