Shallow tubewell no good

THE Punjab government's proposal to construct shallow tubewells along the Sirhind and Rajasthan feeder canals has come in for a lot of criticism. A study conducted by the Irrigation and Power Research Institute, Amritsar, observes that the tubewells would only be drawing water which seeps into the ground from the canals. Underground channels would be created between the banks of the canals and tubewells resulting in seepage of canal water, said R P Chatrath who led the study.

The study welcomed the Rs 200 crore anti-water logging plan. The government plans to construct a 273 km long seepage-cum-anti-flood drains to control water logging.