LAHORE: The Punjab plans to execute 13 irrigation development schemes, which include some as big as rehabilitation of barrage, with an allocation of Rs23 billion, which it earmarked in its budget here on Monday.

According to annual development programme (ADP) document, the Punjab government plans to deal with hill torrents in Rajanpur area and built a New Khanki Barrage as well.

The improvement of Pakpattan Canal and Sulemanki Barrage is also part of the plan.

The document reveals that there are 124 schemes going on in the sector.

While preparing for next year annual development programme, the department has prioritised those schemes, which are labour intensive and where more skilled and unskilled labour could be absorbed.

The irrigation department plans to complete 34 schemes (30 ongoing and four new) during the next year. It also reveals that out of Rs1,727 billion to be spent on these schemes, Rs10 billion would come from foreign funding.

“These allocations, though beneficial, yet miss the point,” says Asif Baloch, a farmer from central Punjab area.

The system is archaic and crumbling, because it is now more than 100 years old. It is serving 21 million acres in the province with a crop intensity of 120 per cent. Can it be put back on its feet by slashing allocations?

“Till 2017-18, the departmental allocation was Rs41 billion. Next year (2018-19), it dropped to Rs19 billion. This year it has risen to Rs23 billion. Instead of increasing money supply and take a holistic approach, the government is going towards [exactly] opposite direction: keep slashing money and undertake piecemeal projects to look busy improving the system. The system has suffered chronic under-funding and the Punjab is only repeating the mistake with such paltry allocations,” he concludes.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2020