ISLAMABAD, July 8: The government would complete nine major ongoing irrigation projects during the fiscal 2003-04 to promote agriculture sector in the country.

An amount of Rs11,120 million (75 per cent of the total Rs14,733 million water section’s allocation) has been earmarked to timely complete these irrigation projects, official sources said here Thursday.

The projects to be implemented include Gomal Zam, raising of Mangla, Mirani, Sabakzai, Satpara dams, Thal Flood Canal, Kachhi Canal, Rainee Canal and revamping/rehabilitation of irrigation system of Sindh.

In addition to this, sufficient allocations have been made for irrigation system rehabilitation, modernization of barrages, lining of irrigation channels in the Punjab and lining of irrigation channels in the NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan.

The sources said works for construction of a bridge over Gomal River at Gardavi is in progress while 10 per cent of work on investigation, camp construction, overall design, main canal/distributaries alignment and construction of diversion tunnel have been completed.

An amount of Rs800 million including foreign aid of Rs300 million has been allocated during the year 2003-04 for the project.

The work regarding raising of Mangla Dam including construction of saddle embankment, bridge on Bong Canal, powerhouse by-pass road, offices for Wapda consultants and resettlement works would continue during the next fiscal and Rs3 billion would be utilized for timely completion of the project.

The initial works for Mirani Dam embankment, spillway, construction of irrigation system and road were undertaken. Sufficient allocation of Rs800 million have been provided to accelerate the ongoing work during the year 2003-04.

Satpara Dam having a storage capacity of 0.045 MAF, length of 518m, height of 34.5m would irrigate 19,920 acres in Skardu valley. During the current financial year, an amount of Rs200 million would be utilized on land acquisition and other initial works including camp, colonies, roads, outlet structures, power house and spillway.

The Sabakzai Dam draft feasibility report, tender documents, detailed engineering design and geological investigations have been completed and an allocation of Rs500 million has been made for earth excavation of 1.5 MCM for the dam embankment, spillway, construction of 25 structures and 18km of road.—APP