Punjab: Rs 235m being spent to improve irrigation: minister

[Naveed Yaseen]

THE Punjab Irrigation Department is spending an amount of Rs. 235 million on the execution of 866 different ‘closer works’ of 639 water channels for improving the irrigation infrastructure in the province.

Senior Minister Raja Riaz Ahmed stated this while presiding over a departmental meeting at his office. Representatives of PIDA and high-ups of the Irrigation Department also participated in the meeting and briefed about the details and nature of closer works. The meeting was told that Rs. 60 million for 216 closer works in Bahawalpur zone, Rs. 39 million for 102 closer works in DG Khan zone, Rs. 15 million for 121 closer works in Faisalabad zone, Rs. 17 million for 48 closer works in Lahore zone, Rs. 56 million for 216 closer works in Multan zone and Rs. 45 million for 163 closer works in Sargodha zone had been provided.

The meeting was informed that annual desilting campaign was going on in full swing. About Rs. 110 million have been provided for 2970 mile long 400 perennial canals while Rs. 65.88 million have been provided for 1445 mile long 239 non-perennial canals.

About 8.08 lakh cubic feet silt will be removed from perennial canals and 5.05 lakh cubic feet silt will be excavated from non-perennial canals.

Raja Riaz directed for achieving the targets of desilting campaign, adding the transparency in payments be ensured. He asked the Irrigation Department to develop foolproof mechanism to countercheck desilting details.

Water supplies should be of good quality, equitably distributed and meet the needs of all users through an efficient management, institutional and legal system that would ensure the sustainable utilization of water resources and support economic and social development with due consideration to the environment, quality of life, economic value of resources, ability to pay and participation of all stakeholders, concluded Raja Riaz.

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