ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) is meeting here on Thursday with a heavy agenda containing 47 different projects, including the construction of a controversial Thal Flood Water Canal, Dawn reliably learnt here on Wednesday.

Thal Flood Water Canal project, on which Sindh has serious reservations, would be constructed in a period of seven years at the cost of over Rs3 billion, an official said.

The canal, which would originate from Chashma Jehlum Link Canal, is projected to irrigate an area of over 1.5 million acres in southern Punjab.

The flood water canal would supply an estimated 1.87maf of water to the command area in southern Punjab. It would have two-branch system spread over an area of 1,230 kilometres with a distribution network of 1,415 water courses, the official said.

It also involves construction of 28,301 small bridges and structures all along the distribution network.

Thal Flood Water Canal project was included in the projects prioritized by the government for enhancing agriculture production of the country and announced by President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his speech on Aug 14 last.

This is the only project of its size which is being funded 100 per cent by the government through its own resources and, so far, no foreign aid or loans have been acquired except for a contribution of Rs50 million and that, too, committed by Wapda.

Apart from the Thal Flood Water Canal project, Ecnec would also take up several projects of Pakistan Railways.