GUJAR KHAN: The Asian Development Bank-funded Jalapur Sharif Irrigation Project (JIP) could change the agricultural and climatic environment of salinity-hit Pind Dadan Khan tehsil.

Pind Dadan Khan tehsil, located between the Salt Range and Jhelum River, has been the direct victim of salinity and brackish flash floods flowing down the salty hills.

The brackish water with high concentrations of natural salt is playing havoc with thousands of the acres of plain lands while the population of the area has also been experiencing acute scarcity of drinking water as the salinity affects sub-soil water as well.

According to Malik Zaheer Awan, a journalist and social figure from Pind Dadan Khan tehsil, people are leaving the area in search of better localities.

Irrigation services to enhance agricultural production on 79,750 hectares in Pind Dadan Khan and Khushab districts

Nazar Gondal, an ex-MPA and PTI leader, said Pind Dadan Khan had been the centre of boat manufacturing industry in the old days.

He said the idea of Jalalpur Sharif canal was first introduced during British rule in 1898. Successive governments have been promising to construct the canal since then but according to Mr Gondal this government is going to launch the much awaited project.

Mr Awan said the project is undoubtedly the fulfilment of a longstanding demand of residents of the area.

He said people have demanded that modern irrigation techniques should be used to expand the canal up to the Tobah, Kandowal, Lillah, Golpur, Srobah and Nohwal union councils of Pind Dadan Khan tehsil located at the foot of the Salt Range, on the northern side.

Mr Malik said Pind Dadan Khan had 280,000 acres of land area while this canal was going to irrigate 170,000 acres mostly located in the vicinity of the river.

He said a large portion of the area was already being irrigated by freshwater through tubewells.

He said that many personalities of the area were trying to get the project revised.

Khalid Qureshi, the project management officer of Jalalpur Irrigation Project, when contacted, said JIP was being funded by the Asian Development Bank with a loan amounting to Rs32.7 billion.

According to Mr Qureshi, the canal originates from the right bank of the Jhelum River at Rasool Head near Jalalpur and after crossing Pind Dadan Khan tehsil enters Khushab district across the M-2.

It will create new non-perennial irrigation services for enhancing agricultural production on 79,750 hectares in the Pind Dadan Khan and Khushab districts.

The project will increase kharif crop production by 50pc, improve crop yield and reduce land degradation. It will directly benefit over 200,000 people.

Under the project, 200-kilometre new irrigation systems would be constructed. The project will contribute to food security and economic growth and will alleviate rural poverty in the area.

The project will provide irrigation water from summer floods to 65,000 hectares and will increase agricultural production of rain-fed areas in Jhelum and Khushab districts.

When asked about the plans to mitigate the salinity impact, the project management officer said that 16 flood carrying channels were designed to throw the flash floods from the Salt Range into the Jhelum River.

According to the officer, the ground-breaking will likely be held on Dec 26 and the project will be completed in four years.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2019