Punjab colonies

THE reports on the Punjab canal colonies for 1923 and 1924 have just been issued. They show what progress has been made in the disposal of fresh lands brought under cultivation by the new canals and in the growth of several colony towns and markets. The oldest of the canal colonies are Sidhnai in Multan district and Sohag Para in Montgomery district, founded between 1886 and 1888. These are settled colonies in which over 90 per cent of the cultivable land has been disposed of, and it is said that agricultural conditions were very satisfactory during the two years (1923-24). Next in age to these is the Lower Chenab Canal Colony, which was founded over 30 years ago and which extends through Sheikhupura, Lyallpur and Jhang districts. The conditions in this colony are not satisfactory on account of the great variety of grants and the terms on which plots of land are sold. In this colony, occupation rights were acquired by tenants long ago, and in a majority of the cases, rights of ownership have also been acquired. The casual service grantees in Lyallpur district have since the disbandment of the Canal Corps not acquired proprietary rights and the recovery of the purchase price is very difficult. In another case, similar difficulty is felt on account of the auction price having been very high and unwisely raised by speculators. In some cases, lands have been resumed by the government for non-payment of instalments and this process is being continued. It is stated that the recovery of arrears is so bad that wholesale confiscations may become unavoidable. It is to be hoped that further concessions will be given to the tenants to pay the price of land based on reasonable re-valuation.