LAHORE, Sept 22: The feasibility studies for the Bhasha dam will likely to be complete by the June 2004 deadline, Wapda chairman Zulfiqar Ali Khan claimed here on Monday.

He was presiding over a monthly progress review meeting of Wapda’s water wing.

The meeting also noted that the authority was studying to provide three feeders on the left end side and two feeders on the right side of Sehwan barrage to improve the irrigation system in Sindh.

With additional supply of water through Sakrand, Nara and Rohri feeders, about 2.3 million acres, previously under Sukkur barrage command and about 73,000 acres of Lower Dadu Canal, will have improved cropping intensity. In addition to these feeders, Wapda also plans to upgrade Manchar Lake with additional supply of fresh water.

The meeting was told that total storage of Manchar Lake and Sehwan barrage would be 0.95 million acre feet.

The areas on the left bank of Indus river are commanded by two canals —- Rohri and Nara —- that off take from left bank of Sukkur barrage. Rohri canal is 208 miles long whereas Nara is 217 miles. The southern half of their command has a very low cultivation as compared to northern areas because of water scarcity. This is largely due to extra withdrawal of water in upper reaches.

Similarly, on the right end side, the area under command of Lower Dadu Canal also have lower cultivation intensity and ecology of Manchar Lake also bears serious affects due to lack of water supplies. —Staff Reporter