- Water to be released into distribution system for irrigation of 72,000 acres land in Dera Bugti
After a delay of more than a decade, the construction of the Kachhi Canal project would finally be completed by the third week of August, and water will be filled in it to test its structures.
This was disclosed in a meeting, presided over by Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Muzammil Hussain. The meeting was held to review progress on the project.
Speaking on the occasion, the WAPDA chairman said that it was a matter of great satisfaction that the Kachhi Canal project, launched 15 years ago, had almost been an abandoned project owing to certain reasons, gross cost overrun and long delays being the major contributing factors.
The formal commissioning of the Kachhi Canal was scheduled by end of August 2017, with the release of water into the distribution system for irrigation of 72,000 acres of virgin land in Dera Bugti district of Balochistan province, the meeting was told.
However, the project was revitalised due to active support of the incumbent federal government and commitment of the WAPDA team, the engineers in particular. It is, indeed, heartening to note that the project is finally going to see the light of the day, the chairman added.
The canal project is of immense importance for development of water infrastructure and irrigated agriculture in Balochistan. It is being completed with about Rs 80 billion. The 363-kilometre long main canal (out of which 351-kilometre is lined canal) takes off from Taunsa Barrage in Muzaffargarh district of Punjab province and ends at Dera Bugti district in Balochistan province.
Discharge capacity of the main canal is 6,000 cusecs. As many as 914 structures have been constructed at or over the main canal including head and cross regulators, road and railways bridges, cross drainage and escape structures and watercourse crossings.
