GUWAHATI

Senior Punjab Minister, Raja Riaz Ahmad has said that a sum of Rs 11.3 billion has been earmarked in the next fiscal budget to regenerate and improve the 37000 kilometres long irrigation network in Punjab. He was talking to a visiting students' delegation of Agriculture University Faisalabad, who called on him at his residence, here on Sunday. At the outset of the meeting, Raja Riaz told the students that irrigation system in Punjab is one of the most important assets for the province as it plays pivotal role in the agriculture sector by providing water for the crops.

A.V.Ragunathan 1,000 cusecs of water to be released through four canals, says Minister irrigation-friendly: Health Minister M.R.K.Panneerselvam opening the sluices of the Keelanai on Sunday. CUDDALORE: Health Minister M.R.K. Pannerselvam opened the sluices of the Kollidam-Keelanai, about 95 km from here, releasing water for irrigation on Sunday. He said that owing to the timely release of water from the Mettur dam on June 12, the level in the Keelani now stood at 8 feet (full level 9 ft). The water initially reached the Kallanai on June 16 and the Keelanai on June 18.

Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh DEHRA DUN: The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Jairam Ramesh has urged the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation ( THDC) to double its operational portfolio in the next five years.

The Indus River System Authority (Irsa) released 32,000 cusecs more water from the Tarbela Reservoir downstream on Thursday to maintain current quantum of water supply for Kharif crops in the country. Official sources told Business Recorder that water inflow has drastically decreased in the mighty Indus and its three tributaries from 0.5 million cusecs to about 0.3 million cusecs in a week's time which has necessitated more releases from the Tarbela dam. The Indus river inflow at Tarbela dam on 26th June was 0.169 million cusecs as compared to its 16th June inflow of 0.315 million cusecs.

The state government which has initiated the modernisation of Nagarjunasagar Project main canals wants to extend water to every acre of the ayacut by taking up repairs to the minor and sub-minor canals too. The government decided to involve the water bodies such as water user associations and distributor committees for the repair works. A total of 72 water user associations and 12 distributory committees are under Tekulapalli circle in Khammam and Krishna districts and these bodies should complete the repair works of the canals before kharif.