PSTC to become Punjab Water Resources and Management Dev Corp

Chandigarh, Sept 20 (UNI) The Punjab government has decided to restructure the Punjab State Tubewell Corporation (PSTC) as Punjab Water Resources and Management Development Corporation (PWRMDC) to make its objectives more broad based.

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting held here today under the chairmanship of Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Taking part in the deliberations, Mr Badal said that at present PSTC only dealt with the installation and management of tube-wells and execution of sprinkler and drip irrigation schemes.

However, with restructuring its scope would increase by including promotion of schemes for construction and management of canals, remodelling or renovation of existing canal system, he said.

Similarly, the schemes for recharge of ground water, development of drainage system, river training work, computerisation for design of irrigation structures etc. would also come within its purview, Mr Badal added.

Reiterating the commitment of SAD-BJP government to strengthen and streamline the canal irrigation network system in the state, Mr Badal said that presently, canals in the state were running below its capacity and after reconstruction the capacity would be enhanced by atleast 50 per cent of the existing capacity.

In the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the Irrigation and Power Secretary to get all the projects relating to irrigation works evaluated from some public sector agency of repute like RITES, CES, Engineers India Ltd. to make them far more cost effective and viable.

UNI