revision of river/canal water charges for non-agriculture purposes
OKAYS RECRUITMENT OF 1090 PATWARIS IN REVENUE DEPARTMENT
APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF 1 KANUGO FOR 7 PATWAR CIRCLES INSTEAD OF 10
Chandigarh, December 4: Too boost efficiency in the functioning of the Revenue Department, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday gave the nod to recruit 1090 Patwaris against vacant posts.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister Office said that the decision was taken in view of the important role played by the Revenue Department – a key sector of the State Administration, in which Patwaris play a vital role in compiling, maintaining and updating the land records.
The decision would improve the public delivery system, besides helping dispose off the revenue work far more efficaciously. Subsequently, the public at large would also be benefitted from this pro-people initiative, said the spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved posting of one Kanugo for seven Patwar circles, instead of the existing practice of one Kanugo after 10 patwar circles, thus creating 34 new posts of Kanugos for this purpose. The decision has been taken in the light of the enhanced work load of the field Kanugos, due to the social-economic transformation taking place across the state.
To boost revenue, the Punjab Government has decided torevise charges for the use of river/canal water for purposes other than agriculture.
The decision was taken on Wednesday at the meeting of the State Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder.
The proposed rates are at par with neighbouring state of Haryana, and the revision is expected to increase the revenue generated from water charges from the existing Rs 24 crore per annum to Rs. 319 crore/annum, according to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office.
The decision was taken in view of the fact that the State Government needed to mobilise additional resources, including for maintenance of canal network, which is spread along
14,500 kms across the state and has deteriorated with passage of time. Most of the distributaries and minors were lined 30 to 40 years back during 1980s, and regular cleaning, twice a year, is required to run the canals efficiently so as to ensure authorised discharge at tail ends, said the spokesperson.
Notably, the Department of Water Resources, apart from Irrigation, supplies water in bulk to various institutions such as Thermal Power Plants, Industries, Municipal Corporations etc, through canals and rivers.
Likewise, beverage and bottled water industry, drinking water supply (including railways and army), fish ponds, brick making and water for construction work also utilize bulk supply of water for operations.
