Dhankar: Water has reached many tail-ends of canals

CHANDIGARH: Irrigation Minister Om Prakash Dhankar today told the House several people had sent their “selfies” to show water had reached the tail-ends of canals in Haryana, but admitted there were many such ends where taking water was still a challenge.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3

Irrigation Minister Om Prakash Dhankar today told the House several people had sent their “selfies” to show water had reached the tail-ends of canals in Haryana, but admitted there were many such ends where taking water was still a challenge.

He was responding to a question on water not reaching the tail-ends of canals. “There is scarcity of water. Even if Punjab gives us our entire share, we will still fall short of the demand. Water still hasn’t reached many tail-ends. We are alive to the issue and have taken it up as a challenge,” he said.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, in response to another question, said the government had not fired any employee from the job and pledged to recruit persons in a transparent manner as nepotism and regionalism would be shunned.

“For this, the Haryana State Selection Commission (HSSC) has been constituted. Of the 50,000 posts to be filled, the process for 20,000 has started,” he said.

To ensure transparency in recruitment, the CM said, interview would carry only 12 per cent of the total marks. In case of teachers, 8 per cent marks have been kept for their experience. For recruitment in the police, preference would be given to physical measurement test. The recruitment of the first batch of teachers is complete and joining letter will be issued to them in 15 days.

Transport Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, responding to a question on power companies, said losses of discoms which amounted to Rs 1,360 crore in 2005 increased to Rs 26,952 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 29,362 crore in 2014-15.

He informed the House that under a new scheme, 24-hour power would be supplied in areas where line losses were 20 per cent on feeders and 90 per cent of the bills were paid. All conductors which are more than 50 years old are being replaced and old meters are being replaced without any fine.

Panwar said the Haryana Power Regulatory Commission had been advising the government to increase the power tariff, but the previous government did not do so, resulting in the increase in losses of power companies.