Kachhi Canal first phase to be completed by year-end

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

By Our Staff Reporter
Sunday, 21 Mar, 2010
LAHORE, March 20: In view of the rapid increase in water and power requirements in the country, Wapda is making an all-out effort for optimal utilisation of water and hydropower resources.

During his visit to Kachhi Canal, Naulong and Sukleji Dam projects and Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD)-III, chairman Shakil Durrani said the authority was executing some mega projects and a number of small and medium-sized projects for the purpose.

Durrani said Kachhi Canal project was of immense importance for Balochistan, as it would enable the province to draw its share of water from the Indus irrigation system. He added that the project would irrigate more than 700,000 acres of land in a phased programme in Balochistan.

He expressed the hope that with the release of the required funds by the government, the first phase of Kachhi Canal project would be completed by the end of the year.

He said about 100,000 acres land would be irrigated on completion of the first phase.

While visiting the sites of Naulong and Sukleji dams, the chairman said the two projects would contribute towards socio-economic development in the far-flung district of Jhal Magsi, as these projects would irrigate 94,000 and 24,000 acres, respectively through high efficiency irrigation systems.

Naulong and Sukleji projects are two of the 32 small and medium-sized dams Wapda has been tasked by the president of Pakistan to construct in all the four provinces and Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA).

The chairman, witnessing the construction work on RBOD-III, said in addition to tackling the twin menace of water-logging and salinity, Wapda was also conducting a study to treat the saline water for making it suitable for agriculture.

Briefings were also arranged by the respective project authorities during the chairman’s visit.

The chairman was accompanied by a technical team of Wapda, including member (water) Syed Raghib Abbas Shah, as well as Balochistan chief secretary and provincial irrigation chief engineer.