Minister urges farmers to embrace canal water for sustainable irrigation

Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond has called on farmers in the region to support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government’s efforts to prevent environmental degradation and combat the depletion of the water table by making optimal use of canal water for irrigation.

Sond said increasing the use of canal water would help reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and electricity, thus preventing environmental pollution caused by power generation and the burning of petrol and diesel.

The minister made this appeal during the concluding session of an event held to felicitate the newly elected Chairman of the Market Committee, Raikot, Gurminder Singh Toor. He highlighted the significant progress made by the AAP Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, in improving access to canal water.

He said while successive governments had struggled to extend canal water to a large portion of cultivable land over the past four decades, the AAP Government had increased the utility rate of canal water from 68 per cent to 84 per cent, ensuring water reaches even the remotest areas.

Sond emphasised canal water is a superior source of irrigation, providing essential minerals and nutrients to crops. He also pointed out using canal water helps reduce the environmental pollution associated with power generation and the burning of diesel.

Elaborating on the preservation of natural resources, the Rural Development and Panchayat Minister said a plan had already been drafted to clean and empty all ponds before the onset of the rains.

Accompanied by Raikot legislator Hakam Singh Thekedar, the minister congratulated Toor on assuming office in the presence of AAP leaders and activists. Addressing the gathering, Toor said, he would make every effort to address the concerns of farmers bringing their produce to mandis under the market committee.