AMRITSAR: The Social Impact Assessment Agency (SIA), Guru Nanak Dev University under Prof. Rajesh Kumar, Principal Project Coordinator and six subject expert’s team completed the SIA Study Report of Land Acquisition by Govt. of Punjab, Water Resources Department (WRD) for the Construction of Malwa Canal in Districts of Ferozepur, Faridkot and Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab and it is being executed under section 4.1 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (herein after the RFCTLARR Act, 2013).
Prof. (Dr. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University handed over the SIA-Malwa Canal Study Report to S. Kuljinder Singh, Executive Engineer, Estate, Ludhiana Canal Circle, Ludhiana in the presence of officials from both the organisations here today in a special function organised in the office of Vice -Chancellor. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Palwinder Singh, Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Karanjeet Singh Kahon, Registrar, Mr. Gagandeep Singh Dhillon, SDO Estate Ludhiana were present.
Prof. Jaspal Singh Sandhu has been of the view that as a Category-I University and an institution recognised as a “University with Potential for Excellence, ” we remain committed to contributing to sustainable development and meaningful social research. This SIA Report not only addresses the quantitative aspects of the proposed project but also delves deeply into the qualitative social dimensions that are increasingly relevant in today’s globalized world.
This project is for providing canal water for irrigation needs of various villages such as Makhu, Jhamke, Zira, Talwandi Bhai, Mudki, Kot Kapura, Jaito, Doda, Bhullar, Mandi Barriwala , Lambi, Fatte Khera in districts Ferozepur, Faridkot and Sri Muktsar Sahib. The Malwa Canal will also benefit water deficit villages in Abohar and Fazilka districts of Punjab state. The Malwa Canal is to provide additional drinking water to people in Ferozepur, Faridkot and Sri Muktsar Sahib, thereby, augment rural infrastructure.
This canal is passing through three border districts Ferozepur, Faridkot and Sri Muktsar Sahib of Punjab state, and covering an area approximately 150 KMs long, 50 foot wide, and 12 foot deep, geographically almost parallel to international boundary on west side of Indian Punjab. The project seems to carry the potential of making favourable impact upon the socio-economic landscape of the entire region. Hereafter, the SIA-Malwa Canal Study Report will be evaluated by the Higher Power Committee setup by the Govt. of Punjab.