Punjab appeals beneficiaries to deposit water cess

Chandigarh, February 24, 2015: The Punjab Government has appealed the beneficiaries to deposit water cess on irrigation facilities as per the reduced rates from November 2014.

The Minister for Irrigation, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon today said that water cess levied by Punjab government has been reduced from Rs 75 per acre per crop to Rs 50 per acre per crop from November 13, 2014, as per the policy of Indian Government to ensure the appropriated funding for the irrigation projects from the Union government.  He also made it clear that the amount, collected from for water cess would be used for restoration, maintenance and construction of the canals and other water channels for irrigation facilities.  He said that Maintenance societies would be set up at block/divisional level for utilisation of this fund, which would include Executive Engineer as the chairman and beneficiaries as farmer representatives.

The Punjab government has also decided to provide matching grant to the amount collected by the maintenance societies for renovation of water channels.