February 22, 2002	Friday	Zilhaj 9, 1422

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MIANWALI, Feb 21: The Punjab governor has okayed the Paikhel lift irrigation scheme to be completed at a cost of Rs533.33 million.

This was disclosed by Mianwali district Nazim Humair Hayat Rokhri at a press conference here on Thursday.

The Nazim said the governor, during his recent visit, had promised to get the project completed. The work on it had been stopped after spending Rs50 million, he added.

He said the completion of the project would bring a green revolution in the district as 78,616 acres would be irrigated through its water.

Spelling out the details, Kalabagh division irrigation XEN Abid Masood told newsmen that 191 feet water would be lifted through four pumps installed at the different spots of 200-cusec canal. The total length of its channels would be 81.5 miles, he added.

He said the main canal would be divided into two parts at Paikhel while the powerful pumps installed at these points would bifurcate the canal with one channel leading from North to Iskandarabad and the other from South to Musakhel, Chidro and Sultaneywala.

He maintained around 5,000 families would derive benefit from the project to be completed in three years. He said the farmers would have to pay only Rs1,175 per acre annually as against their current liability of Rs7,000 per mensum.

The government would earn an amount of Rs71.1 million annually with profit rate of Rs1.37.

The amount already spent on the project had reportedly gone down the drains.

Scores of people urged the authorities concerned to get the project completed and to streamline the annual operation and maintenance cost (AOM).