Selja urges union minister to clean Bhakra canal for adequate water supply

Kumari Selja, the Member of Parliament from Sirsa, has written a letter to Union Minister for Jal Shakti, CR Patil, requesting the cleaning of the Bhakra Canal to ensure adequate water supply for the region. In her letter, Selja explained that the Bhakra Canal, which passed through Punjab and Haryana, had not been cleaned for a long time. As a result, there was a shortage of water supply in the canal, which also impacted branches of the canal flowing into the Sirsa parliamentary constituency.

Selja highlighted that several areas in her constituency, particularly Sirsa and Fatehabad districts, rely heavily on water from the Bhakra Canal for drinking and irrigation purposes. The maintenance and management of these canals fall under the Bhakra Beas Management Board.

Selja pointed out that the canals, especially those branching from the main Bhakra Canal, had not been maintained properly for years, leading to cracks and damage in the canal walls, especially near key bridges. This had affected the water-carrying capacity of the canal, posing a significant risk of water shortage.

In her letter, Selja emphasised that water scarcity in Sirsa and Fatehabad had become a growing concern. She noted that the water supply to these districts was insufficient in recent times, which could worsen as the summer season approached. She called on the Union Minister to take immediate action to clean the Bhakra Canal and its branches to improve water flow and ensure a steady supply of water to the affected districts.

MP Selja requested CR Patil to issue necessary instructions to clean the canal and ensure a balanced water supply.

In the matter, Shyam Dhingra, XEN of the Irrigation Department in Tohana, said the repair and cleaning work of the canals in the area would begin soon. He said tenders were floated for the work and the complete repair and cleaning of the Bhakra Canal would be carried out shortly.

MLA Keharwala raises water shortage issue in Sirsa

During the ongoing Assembly session, Shishpal Keharwala, Congress MLA from Kalanwali of Sirsa district, raised the issue of water shortage in the Sirsa region, stating that farmers were not receiving enough water. In response, Cabinet Minister Mahipal Dhanda claimed that 5,67,125 cusecs of water was being provided to Sirsa, and more water was being supplied this year compared to last year. However, Keharwala questioned these figures, saying that last year, water flowed in the canals for two weeks and was closed for one week, but this year, water was only available for one week and closed for two. He urged the government to verify the water supply claims, warning that the situation would worsen with the upcoming sowing season. Minister Dhanda assured that if there was any discrepancy in the data, an investigation would be conducted.