DERA GHAZI KHAN, June 20: Despite the delay of over six months, Zero Headworks over the DG Khan Canal could not be completed due to the negligence of Irrigation department, affecting hundreds of farmers of DG Khan and Rajanpur districts.

The department also does not take steps against the hill torrents which had devastated it last year in August.

The project, which should be completed in a year, is being completed in a haphazard manner, raising questions about its standard and quality.

Strong hill torrents from the Suleman Ranges had completely destroyed Zero Headworks last year for no official was present to open the gate for discharging torrents as the siphon was insufficient to combat the situation.

The destruction resulted in the complete suspension of irrigation water to Dajal and Jampur canals, causing heavy losses to farmers of both areas.

The irrigation water, which also serves as drinking water in ‘pachadh areas’, is supplied to whole Rajanpur district and some parts of the DG Khan district. Being cotton zone, its production was badly affected as the area is completely dependent upon the irrigation water while the ground water is available at a depth more than 300 feet.

Farmers, pesticide dealers and others related to the agriculture sector suffered heavy losses which brought down cotton sowing this year.

As far as the construction of tail regulator for DG Khan Canal drop structures is concerned, 30 per cent work is yet to be completed while the officials claim to have completed the task. The contractual period comprising four months starts from January and culminates in April.

The Punjab governor in his April 20 visit to Dera had announced to inaugurate the Zero Headworks, but his proposed visit has been postponed due to the delay in its completion.

An official on the condition of anonymity told this correspondent that though its design had been changed, no measures were taken against the seasonal hill torrents.

When contacted, the DG Khan’s Irrigation zone chief engineer was not available for comment. However, SDOs including Mehr Liaquat, Malik Shujaat and Chaudhry Shafiq, said that work had been completed in accordance with the standard.