Punjab makes law to check canal water theft more punitive

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab cabinet on Monday made the laws regarding water theft from canals far more stringent than they are now. It also decided to make recruitment to Punjab Civil Services and allied services mandatory every year.
The fine for canal water theft has been raised from Rs 1,000 to a minimum Rs 5,000, which could go up to Rs 50,000 or imprisonment of up to six months or both.The guilty would be deprived of the facility of canal water for two rounds if they are first time offenders, for a season if they are second time offenders and for two years if they are third time offenders. The government would also issue an ordinance to implement the amendment with immediate effect.
The ministers observed a two minutes silence during the meet in the memory of the deceased in the Jalandhar factory collapse.