PESHAWAR, Jan 7: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani has stressed the need for efficient and scientific use of surface and groundwater resources.

Speaking at a ceremony held to mark launching of desiltation campaign at a cost of Rs17.3 million, here on Monday, the chief minister said that the canal system played a vital role in the improvement of agriculture sector. Therefore, he added, this system needed a focussed approach so that maximum water could be available for irrigation purposes.

Durrani said the government could no longer afford the wastage of water resources.

He asked the department concerned to remove silt from the canals otherwise it would create environmental hazard.

The chief minister said that the elected representatives would personally supervise the desiltation campaign in their respective areas and ensure the efficient utilization of resources and government’s machinery etc.

The chief minister was also briefed about the desiltation campaign, which would be launched simultaneously in Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda districts and would be expanded to other parts of the province in a later stage.

Desiltation campaign in Malakand circles would cost Rs9 million while northern irrigation circles would cost Rs10.7 million. Similarly, the centre irrigation circles and southern irrigation circles would cost Rs20.6 million and Rs10.8 million, respectively.

About 10,812 labourers would take part in the desiltation campaign throughout the province and 18 tractors, 10 bulldozers and 20 trucks would be used. The chief minister was informed that 176 tubewells were out of order throughout the province, which could be made functional with an estimated cost of Rs6.7 million.

The chief minister said that Rs2 million had been released while the remaining amount of Rs4 million would also be released soon.

Durrani said that agriculture formed the backbone of the economy of the province and the government would not ignore this fact.

Provincial ministers for irrigation and local government, provincial secretaries and other high-ranking officials were present on the occasion.