PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has ordered authorities to float tender for the strengthening of the embankments of the Chashma Right Bank Canal for their protection from flash floods.

He also ordered pragmatic steps for the rehabilitation and desilting of the CRBC’s main canal and said his government would provide funds required for it on priority.

Mr Gandapur issued these orders during a meeting of the irrigation department, according to an official statement.

Irrigation minister Aqibullah, principal secretary to the chief minister Amjad Ali Khan, irrigation secretary Tahir Orakzai and the relevant Wapda officials were present in the meeting, while the commissioner of the Dera Ismail Khan division attended the meeting via video link.

The participants reviewed matters related to the taking over of the CRBC’s main canal from Wapda.

The chief minister directed officials concerned to come up with viable proposals for the purpose.

He said the government had already approved Rs62 million for protection of the CRBC’s main canal.

Officials briefed participants about small dam projects, which are nearing completion, and said the Latamber Dam in Karak district and the Jaroba Dam in Nowshera district were ready for inauguration.

They also said work on the Pezu Dam in Laki Marwat and on Khattak Banda Dam in Kohat district was almost 90 per cent complete, while the construction of Zamir Gul and Mukh Banda dams was also near completion.

The chief minister said speedy completion of work on small dams was the priority of his government.

He directed authorities to immediately release the required funds for them.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024