LAHORE – Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority (PIDA) has given approval to the proposed amendments in election regulations of farmers’ organizations and area water board rules.The approval was given at the 45th meeting of PIDA presided over by Irrigation minister and PIDA chairman Malik Ahmed Ali here on Wednesday. The meeting while giving approval to the necessary amendments in the rules and regulations of farmers’ organizations and the area water boards for improving their performance agreed that the tenure of these organizations should be kept three years. The meeting also recommended 33 per cent representation of women in authority members. The meeting unanimously gave approval to the 15 per cent ad-hoc relief allowance to PIDA employees from 1st July, 2011 and extended the contracts of consultants and all employees up to December 2012 in the light of PC-1. The meeting also directed the officers to complete necessary formalities for transferring staff of PIDA from project to regular mod so that the programmes of reformation of irrigation system under PIDA could be made on coordinated basis. The meeting also directed Irrigation secretary to constitute inquiry committee regarding theft of water in the area water board of Lower Bari Duab Canal. PIDA Chairman directed to revisit the existing rules and regulations 2007 regarding PIDA staff and directed to issue notification of election results of chairman and vice-chairman of area water board of Lower Chenab Canal (Sharqi) Circle.