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.

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. 

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.           

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.