Haridwar: Commenting on the long-pending issue of distribution of assets between Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, UP irrigation minister Dharampal Singh on Sunday said that the issue has been resolved and Uttar Pradesh is ready to give 25% of unused land to Uttarakhand and 37 minor canals have also been handed over to the hill state.

He was in Haridwar on Sunday to inspect flood-control facilities at Bhimgoda barrage. He said that demarcation of the land has been completed by officials of both states. “The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to give 25% of 800 hectares in Haridwar district to Uttarakhand. Also around 900 hectares is being used by both the states but the control is still with Uttar Pradesh,” said CB Yadav, executive engineer of UP irrigation department.

Around 37 minor canals have been handed over to Uttarakhand for regulation and maintenance purposes. Most of these canals flow from Haridwar to Kanpur. Though the water control will remain with Uttar Pradesh, sufficient water will be released for Uttarakhand farmers, he said.

Meanwhile, the UP irrigation department has decided to operate the upper Ganga canal with full capacity. “Due to low rainfall in western and central Uttar Pradesh, farmers are facing trouble in irrigating their land. So we have decided to operate the upper Ganga canal with full capacity. Excess water will be released through Mayapur channel,” the minister said.