Gang canal’s closure for repair deferred

Raj Sadosh

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Abohar, October 14

The week-long closure of Gang (Bikaner) canal for maintenance that was expected this month-end has been deferred. The decision has been taken by Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Dr Ram Pratap Sahu in consultation with Sriganganagar District Collector PC Kishan.

About half a dozen farmers’ organisations had threatened to intensify the stir over the issue arguing that the closure would harm the sowing of mustard, gram and barley crops. Dr Sahu said at a meeting in Sriganganagar today that irrigation officials and representatives of farmers should first conduct a joint inspection of the canal and finalise the work to be done during the closure.

Notably, a committee of engineers from Punjab and Rajasthan was constituted last year to examine the repair of Bikaner canal in seepage affected RD 280 to 311 by plugging pressure release valves (PRV). The committee said in its report, on April 20, 2015, that about 25 villages of Fazilka district and neighbouring area had been affected by water logging since almost all PRVs were damaged and a lot of these were also found completely missing. The lining of the canal was also damaged. Joints of the right side of brick tiles were loose.

The committee recommended that to reduce the seepage from the canal and water logging, 248 PRVs should be plugged, the floor bed and lining be repaired immediately along with joints of right side of brick tiles in the lining.