ISLAMABAD, Feb 16: The government on Monday approved a Rs70 billion 'lining of water channels project' to be completed in four years. Official sources told Dawn that the Central Development Working Party of the planning commission had approved a total of 12 development projects. The total cost is estimated at Rs100 billion.

The second biggest project approved was NWFP's population programme for which the centre is expected to release Rs10 billion. The other projects pertain to population welfare, health, education, and science and technology sectors.

The lining of 90,000 water channels will be carried out in all provinces. The government has so far completed the lining of 60,000 water channels out of a total of 150,000 channels.

"The government has, for the first time, approved such a massive development project with a view to completing the lining of (90,000) water channels in just four years which otherwise could have taken at least 25 years," an official who attended the meeting said.

Planning Commission Secretary Javed Sadiq Malik presided over the meeting. "This is a huge project which will generate thousands of new jobs across the country," the official said. Industries like cement, bricks and construction would also get a boost, he added.

The official said over 75 per cent of the funding would be provided by the federal government while the rest would come from farmers' associations. These associations would, in fact, be providing cheap labour to execute the project, he added.

The project, he pointed out, would check water losses and help rehabilitate 8 million feet acres, earlier destroyed due to seepage. Another source said the ECNEC would meet on Wednesday to approve various other development projects.

A number of new projects, the source said, had been recommended by Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali which would be discussed and approved at the meeting.