HAFIZABAD, April 19: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Monday said a mega project of remodelling of Lower Chenab Canal System under the umbrella project of National Drainage Programme would help usher in a green revolution in Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Gujranwala and Jhang districts during the next two years.

He said this while addressing a meeting at Sagar Head here after laying the foundation stone of the project of remodelling of LC Canal system being executed with the collaboration of Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

He said the LCCS was completed in 1892, adding that these canals have a total length of 2,800 miles, with the capacity of 12,243 cusecs which irrigates a total area of 30 lakh acres, he added. This system has become outdated which cannot cope with the demands of tail-end farmers.

Pervaiz Elahi said Lower Gogera Branch and its distributaries would be completed by December 2005 at a cost of Rs2.5 billion, while Lower Gogera Barala, Mian Ali canals and their distributaries would be completed during the next three years at a cost of Rs3 billion. The Jhang and Rakh Branch system would be remodelled during the next three years, he added.

After the completion of the project, the capacity of the canals would be increased from 12,000 cusecs to 15,228 cusecs while agricultural produce would also be increased in the six districts, he added.

Pervaiz Elahi thanked Japan for for extending cooperation to this effect. He said 84 per cent of the total cost was being borne by the Japan Bank. He said three lakh acres more land could be brought under cultivation after completion of the project.

Toru Arai, the chief representative of Japan Bank, while addressing the gathering said his bank was providing soft loan to the Punjab government for the improvement of canal system with a view to increasing agricultural production in the Rechna Doab.

Earlier, Irrigation Secretary Javed Majeed while briefing the Chief Minister about the project, said that 10 million people would benefit in command area of 30 lakh acres in these six districts. He said extra discharge of water during peak demand period from May to August would be met with the completion of the project. - APP