category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh The Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday unanimously passed the Punjab Canals and Drainage Bill-2023 to ensure uninterrupted canal water supply for farmers, maintenance of water courses and early and transparent redressal of grievances. The bill was presented by Water Resources Minister S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra. Divulging further in this regard, S. Jauramajra informed that the main objective to enact the Punjab and Drainage Bill is to ensure hindrance free canal waters to farmers and land owners for irrigation purposes, maintenance, repair and timely cleanliness of canals, drainages and natural water courses, a fair and transparent mechanism for redressal of grievances of water users and other regulatory restrictions against unnecessary wastage of water. The Cabinet Minister said that the bill provides that the state government will provide means of crossing canals and other natural water bodies. The government shall provide and maintain suitable means of crossing canals for the reasonable convenience of the inhabitants of the adjacent lands , said the Cabinet Minister, adding that the government may issue a general policy for bridge or ramps (fields paths, foot bridges etc.) on canal from time to time as and when required. Similarly, settlement of disputes between the land owners related to the maintenance and cleaning of the water courses, will be ensured. If any person, jointly responsible with others for the construction or maintenance of a watercourse, or jointly making use of a watercourse with others, neglects or refuses to pay his share of the cost of such construction as maintenance, or to execute his share of any work necessary for such construction or maintenance, the Divisional Canal Officer, on receiving an application shall investigate and make orders as he may deem fit. The Water Resources Minister said that provision has also been made for maintenance of water courses under the bill. Apart from this, restoration of demolished or altered water course will be ensured. If a person demolishes, alters, enlarges or obstructs a watercourse or a temporary watercourse or causes any damage thereto, any person affected thereby may apply to the Sub-Divisional Canal Officer for directing the restoration of the same to its original condition. He said that when canal or river water is supplied to forts or other military buildings, cantonment, civil station, cities, towns, railway, public garden or other places of public resort, industrial units, power plants and bulk users, beverages and bolted water industry, drinking water supply (including Railways and Army), fish pond and brick making and water construction work or any other non-irrigation use either by filing of tanks or by direct flow, contracts at special rates may be accepted by the Divisional Canal Officer with the previous sanction of the State Government. (editor dailyworld.in)