After repair, water released from Harike barrage

Our Correspondent

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Abohar, April 21

As the extended period of canals closure ended on Thursday night, water was today released from the Harike barrage into Gang (Bikaner) and Indira Gandhi canals.

All canals emanating from the barrage were closed on March 26. The work that included desilting in the barrage area, lining and repair in other canals and renovation of headworks, was to be completed by April 16. Punjab had sought a 10-day extension but Rajasthan agreed to extend it up to April 20 only as some of the villages have been reeling under drinking water crisis.

Punjab officials today released 1,100 cusecs of water at 6 am. It is expected to reach the Shivpur headworks on the Abohar-Sriganganagar border on Saturday evening. The Sriganganagar water resources authorities have finalised arrangements to ensure that water is not used for irrigating fields as it would be supplied to villages which are facing severe drinking water shortage. The officials have drawn up a priority map for the rural areas regarding it.

Sources said Punjab engineers had been advised to be cautious in releasing water in bulk as such discharge had last year washed away the lined bed of a canal in the Abohar circle.