ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: The federal government has approved “Balochistan effluent disposal into right bank outfall drainage (RBOD)” project to be completed by June 30, 2005 at a cost of Rs8.5 billion.

Official sources told Dawn here on Wednesday that Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has directed Wapda authorities to immediately take up the project which has already been delayed due to financial constraints.

Wapda and Irrigation & Power departments of Balochistan and Sindh will be the execution agency of the project that seeks to dispose saline effluent and facilitating control of storm water drainage through existing and proposed drains. It will also provide outfall facilities through RBOD-1 & RBOD-II into sea in Gharo Creek or partly into Hamal Lake/Manchhar Lake.

Sources said that the prime minister during a recent visit to Balochistan was briefed about the project and related financial constraints. He directed the concerned authorities to undertake the project without further delay and said the Centre will provide the required funding to complete the project in time.

The primary objective of the project is to provide the direly needed effluent disposal facilities for the existing and proposed drainage projects and to reclaim the agricultural lands converted into ponds of water due to lack of disposal of storm water and irrigation surplus. The project also envisages the construction of civil works and infrastructure to facilitate re-use of suitable water for irrigation and conservation of Hamal and Manchhar Lakes and thereby improving their environmental conditions.

The project after completion would increase crop production through reclamation of agricultural land and increase in cropping intensity and yields, and also decrease in agricultural risks to commanded areas of Pat Feeder and Khirthar canals. The increase in cropping intensity and yield will lead to a substantial rise in the demand for farm labour.

The provincial revenue will increase by Rs 4.5 million per annum in addition to the direct agricultural taxation and project charges.

Earlier, an interim arrangement of disposal into evaporation ponds through construction of Hairdin Carrier drain was adapted. However, it has not only converted the useful agricultural land of about 8,094 hectares

in Balochistan to the waste ponds but has also caused the environmental hazards.

The lack of proper disposal has caused the spread of effluent even further downstream in Sindh province in command areas of Rabi canal. As a result about 6,000 hectares of agricultural land in Sindh province has also been converted into water ponds leading to migration of the inhabitants from this area.

It is said that in the absence of any technically, socially and environmentally acceptable disposal arrangement for the drainage effluent of Pat Feeder Canal Command in Balochistan, the existing drainage projects are not performing properly. The excessive standing water and salinization of the land is resulting in reduction of cultivated areas in Kharif and is damaging crops due to prolonged flooding after the storms.