03 January 2004	Saturday	10 Ziqa'ad 1424

MIANWALI, Jan 2: The Thal Canal Remodelling Project which was launched during the Benazir Bhutto era in 1995 has been abandoned.

The World Bank had provided Rs22.4 billion for the project which was aimed at providing water to the farmers at tail ends in five districts - Mianwali, Khushab, Bhakkar, Layyah and Muzaffargarh.

About 70 per cent work on the project has been completed at the cost of Rs14 billion. The work continued till the year 2002 when it was stopped for want of funds.

The Punjab government sought Rs800 million from the Planning Commission in Islamabad which reportedly refused to sanction. It is reliably learnt that the funds have been shifted for the completion of Greater Thal Canal project. The Thal Canal originates from the Jinnah Barrage.

The remodelling project was launched to increase its capacity from 7,500 cusecs to 9,000 cusecs. Serious circles demanded that the government should look into the matter and release funds to complete the project of national importance otherwise billions of rupees would go down the drain.