Says the state engaged in a ‘water battle’, managing the swollen Ravi and Sutlej rivers every rainy season Punjab has sought higher Central allocation for management of flood-prone areas bordering Pakistan, as has been done in the case of Naxal and drough-hit areas, during the 12th Plan period. It said the state was engaged in a “water battle,” managing the swollen Ravi and Sutlej during the rainy season. It needed money to undertake preventive measures and not merely for disaster management. Talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of a conference on development and management of water resources, Punjab Irrigation Secretary Karan Bir Singh Sidhu said the flooding of border areas was an issue that needed immediate attention. “The Ravi and the Sutlej form a natural border between India and Pakistan. While destruction of crops due to floods is one issue, there are more serious matters related to the country’s safety and security. As it is, the Indian terrain is slightly lower. Pakistan has created physical barriers on its side. Whenever there is heavy rain, villages in our border areas are flooded with water diverted from Pakistan areas. While hectares of standing crops are damaged, there have also been instances of the barbed wire fence getting damaged,” he said. A proposal by Punjab, which is backed by the neigbouring Haryana, states that instead of huge investments in new irrigation projects, priority should be given to repair and maintenance of the existing systems. The two agricultural states have well-established irrigation networks that now need urgent repair work. Haryana had asked for funds allocated under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) to be extended for renovation of the state’s canal system, a proposal, which according to state officials, has been given the go-ahead by the Centre. Punjab has suggested that issues like water-logging, water re-charge and salinity be dealt by the Irrigation Department and not the Environment and Forests Department. Making a significant change to ensure micro-management of irrigation networks from the point of delivery to field-level channels, the government has asked for works under the Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) programme to be taken up alongside the AIBP during the 12th Plan. Ministry officials say the AIBP is being restructured with an enhanced outlay and increased participation of the Centre to close the gap between the Irrigation Potential Created (IPC) and the Irrigation Potential Utilised (IPU) for micro management of water resources. “While big contracts under the AIBP get executed due to large funding under the scheme, construction of field channels under the CAD is often neglected”, an official said. The new scheme also proposes strengthening of Water Users Associations (WUAs) in the country with direct involvement of all stake-holders. Punjab wants that instead of huge investments in new irrigation projects, priority should be given to repair and maintenance of the existing irrigation systems This proposal is backed by the neighbouring state of Haryana The two agricultural states have well-established irrigation networks that need urgent repair work Punjab has suggested that issues like waterlogging, water recharge and salinity be dealt by the Irrigation Department, not the Environment and Forests Dept