MIANWALI, July 4: Remodelling of Thal Canal has been completed at a cost of Rs2.24 billion. Thal Canal project SE said on Tuesday that after remodelling, the capacity of the canal has been enhanced from 7,500 to 9,000 cusecs. Now the canal would irrigate another 0.13 million acres of land in Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Khushab, Bhakkar and Mianwali districts.

He said the canal was remodeled to eradicate the water loss through seepage.

Former XEN of the project Tasnimul Hasnain said Jinnah Barrage (got the name after the partition) was completed in 1939 and water in the Thal Canal was released in 1950. It had the capacity of 6,000 cusecs and it had been irrigating 177,000 acres. In 1964-65, the Thal Canal was upgraded and water flow was increased to 7,500 cusecs. After remodelling, the discharge of water increased to 9,000 cusecs which was a record in subcontinent.

He said the banks of the canal have been raised from 4.5 feet to five feet from Jinnah Barrage to Head Nasirwala (Piplan). The banks of the main and sub canals have also been raised. After 55 years, the bed of Thal Canal has been re-carpeted and the banks have been repaired.

Mr Hasnain said the farmers at the tail-end of the canal would also have sufficient water to irrigate their lands. The project was funded by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. — Correspondent