LAHORE: Following the delay of more than a decade, the construction of Kachhi Canal Project will finally be completed by the third week of this month followed by filling of water to test the main canal and its structures. Formal commissioning of the scheme is scheduled by the end of the month with release of water into the distribution system for irrigation of 72,000 acres of virgin land in Dera Bugti district of Balochistan.

“Kachhi Canal that started 15 years ago was almost an abandoned project owing to certain reasons, gross cost overrun and long delays being the major contributing factors. However, the project was revitalised due to active support of the incumbent government and commitment of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) team,” Wapda Chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain said while presiding over a meeting held here to review progress on the project. “It is indeed heartening to note that the project is finally going to see light of the day after a long period of 15 years,” he added.

The project is of immense importance for development of water infrastructure and irrigated agriculture in Balochistan. The project is being completed with a cost of about Rs80bn. The 363km long main canal (out of which 351km is lined canal) takes off from Taunsa Barrage in Muzaffargarh district of Punjab and ends at Dera Bugti district in Balochistan.

The discharge capacity of the main canal is 6,000 cusecs. As many as 914 structures have been constructed at or over the main canal, including head and cross regulators, road and railways bridges, cross drainage and escape structures and watercourse crossings etc.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2017