State to benefit as Centre plans to hike its share

The Union Government proposes to reward states that levy charges for canal water supply to the farm sector. Official sources said that the Centre would contribute an equal amount to what would be collected by the state government as water charges from the farmers. Punjab is one of the states that provide canal water free of cost to the farmers. Earlier, the state government used to levy “abiyana” on the farmers but it was abolished some years ago.