September 5, 2003	Friday	Rajab 7, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: The centre has asked Punjab to discuss with the Sindh government the remodelling of Greater Thal Canal project keeping in view the availability of water.

Official sources told Dawn on Thursday that the Sindh government had raised fresh objections over Punjab’s decision to remodel Thal Canal as the project had been designed for 4.64 MAF whereas water availability was only 4.14 MAF.

The Sindh Assembly had adopted a unanimous resolution against the construction of the project and called upon the government to stop it as it would affect the agriculture of the province.

The Punjab government responded to Sindh’s objection by saying that the Indus River System Authority had already given clearance for the remodelling of the project. Moreover, Punjab maintained that since Rs1.4 billion (62 per cent of the revised cost) had already been spent to achieve 65pc physical progress, the project could not be abandoned.

Wapda has revised the completion date of the project from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2007. Originally, the project was to cost Rs30.4 billion but now its cost is expected to increase considerably.

The main objective of the project is to provide irrigation water to farmlands in the districts of Bhakkar, Layyah, Khushab, Jhang during the Kharif season.