Irrigation Multan zone has so far recovered over Rs 17 million water charges (Abiyana) through newly introduced E-Abiyana billing system during Kharif season 2021.
According to the irrigation department sources, 416 out of 1646 villages of Multan zone were included in E-Abiyana billing system and bills of over Rs 82 million Abiyana have been disbursed to 75891 growers of 659 villages so far.
There were five canal divisions including Multan Canal, Shujabad, Trimmu, Western Bar lower and Lodhran Canal division across Irrigation Multan zone.
Over Rs 1.9 million Abiyana was recovered so far as over Rs 3.4 million Abiyana issued to 2648 growers of 20 villages in Multan division.
Likewise, over Rs one million recovered against over Rs 100 million Abiyana issued to 9583 growers of 80 villages of Shujabad Canal division. Over Rs 6.3 million in Trimmu headworks, and over Rs 7.6 million water rates were recovered from Lodhran Canal division while no recovery was reported in Western Bar lower.
The E-Abiyana billing to perennial canal areas would be made twice in a year while non-perennial canal areas would get one bill in a year, the sources added.
The per acre water charges were Rs 8500 for fish farm, Rs 501 for orchard and Rs 251 for other land area.
The Abiyana bills could be paid through mobile easy paisa, jazz cash and through banks.
The Abiyana recovery from rest of the area which could not be computerized so far was being made through manual system, the sources concluded.