TOBA TEK SINGH - PML-N MPA Mian Muhammad Rafiq has said that if the Punjab government does not pay attention to the issue of waterlogging in 100 villages situated around Trimmu-Sidhnai link canal, thousands of farmers residing in these villages will be forced to migrate to other area.
While addressing a press conference, he claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had ordered the officials concerned to prepare feasibility for the brick-lining of the canal to stop seepage which had been destroying fertile farmlands in 100 villages in the shape of waterlogging. He regretted that 'bureaucracy' in the Chief Minister's Secretariat rejected the project of brick-lining worth Rs1 billion. He said that on October 10, thousands of growers from three districts Khanewal, Jhang and Toba had taken out a big rally in Toba demanding brick-lining and reduction of water supply in the said canal but nothing had been done so far in this regard.
The MPA pointed out that water up to three feet was flowing in the farmlands and farmers were even unable to harvest paddy crop. He warned that if the situation continued another rally would be taken out on Nov 7 in Toba and the rallies would continue every month until the grave problem was solved.