LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has initiated the construction of remaining works on the Kachhi Canal Project Phase-I, which will enable the province to irrigate another 30,000 acres in Dera Bugti.

Besides this, the process for carrying out feasibility studies of Kachhi Canal Project Phase-II and III has also been started.

“The project’s phase-1 is enabling the province to irrigate 72,000 acres. And after the completion of the remaining works, it will irrigate another 30,000 acres. Thus the total area irrigated by the project would be 102,000 acres,” Wapda Chairman retired Lt-Gen Muzammil Hussain told Dawn on Wednesday.

The 353km long Kachhi Canal gets water from the Indus River at Taunsa barrage.

The Wapda chief said he visited the project in Balochistan on Wednesday where, in a meeting, it was decided to also start work on feasibility studies for the project phase-II and III.

Earlier, at a meeting at the project site, Wapda chairman, according to a press release, said that 40km long main lined canal and 32 Km-long water distribution system would be constructed in three years under remaining works of the Phase-I. As many as 363-Km main canal and allied water distribution system has already been completed by Wapda in August 2017 to irrigate 72000 acres of land.

“It is a good omen for Balochistan that 52,000 acres out of the 72,000 acres is being cultivated to bring in a phenomenal change in the livelihood of the locals in Dera Bugti District. I hope the government of Balochistan would soon be able to develop the remaining 20,000 barren acres in the command area,” he said.

Earlier, the general manager (central), water, briefed the chairman about the status for implementing remaining works of the Phase-I and carrying out feasibility study of the Phase-II and the Phase-III.

NESPAK: Nespak has been ranked this year on ENR Magazine Top International Construction Management Firms list, published as part of the ENR Top International/Global Contractors feature in the August 17-24 issue, a US-based ranking magazine.

The ranking has been published in the latest issue of the magazine and communicated to the Nespak management with a congratulatory note. “NESPAK has been ranked 13 among the top 20 Non-US firms in total global construction management and program management.

The feature story can be found at:https://www.enr.com/articles/49907-top-250-international-contractors-struggling-with-covid-19,” according to a press release. At present, Nespak is not only playing a lead role in the consultancy services for the construction of two mega hydropower projects i.e., Mohmand Dam and Diamer Basha Dam Projects but also providing engineering services in seven other countries.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2020