LAHORE, Feb 22: The government has planned to rehabilitate the Punjab irrigation system, which is one of the best and the oldest in the world, according to Irrigation Minister Amir Sultan Cheema.

Broaching his discussion in the Punjab Assembly on Saturday, Mr Cheema said the Irrigation Rehabilitation Project, which would cost about Rs21 billion, would play an important role in restoring all the canals in the province to their original condition. He added that the federal government was being approached to arrange funding for the project.

He said a feasibility report for remodelling of all barrages in the Punjab was also being prepared, adding the Rs30 billion project would specially focus Taunsa, Jinnah, Balloki and Head Islam headworks. Efforts were also being directed to construct a new barrage at Khanki, he said.

He also said remodelling plan for the Lower Chenab Canal at a cost of Rs31 billion had been finalized under the National Drainage Programme. In addition to it, he said, the construction of drainages, around 8,900 kilometres water courses would be lined to check wastage of water.

He informed the house that work on the Greater Thal Canal, costing Rs30.4 billion, was going on under the supervision of Wapda. On completion after seven years, the canal would irrigate 100,000 acres in Khushab, Bhakkar Layyah and Jhang.

The Chashma Right Bank Canal project was in its final stage and would irrigate 240,000 acres in Dera Ghazi Khan, he said.

The minister said a package of 10 small dams to meet water requirements of Potohar area had also been prepared for approval.

He told the house that the chief minister had directed him to make a plan for commissioning small power generating units at falls of various canals to produce cheap electricity for agriculture sector.

Seeking suggestions from the house for improving water supply at tailends, checking corruption of irrigation officials through introducing a panchayat system in the department, he said he was also planning to form canal water evaluation committees comprising representatives of farmers, district government concerned and irrigation men.

He also urged the house to give a joint recommendation for putting up before the federal government the construction of new water reservoirs, as the present ones were worn-out.

He said sub-soil water level had fallen by 10 to 15 feet due to over pumping by tubewells during the last fours years of drought.

Later, various members from the treasury and opposition benches pointed out the water shortages in the Punjab and their adverse effect on agricultural production.

Many of them underlined the need for the construction of Kalabagh Dam and some other reservoirs to meet the future requirements of the province.

PPP’s Rana Aftab Ahmad Khan regretted that water charges had been raised many a time during the past few decades while water availability had been reduced.

He agreed with the suggestion that more dams were needed, but made it clear that they should be built after evolving national consensus. No dam, he emphasized, should be set up at the cost of the national unity. He added that water would enhance its value in future.

MMA’s Asghar Gujjar proposed the formation of a committee comprising legislators and bureaucrats to discuss whether the Kalabagh Dam should be constructed or not.

He said the project was kept in cold storage by successive governments as neither wanted to let its rival claim credit for it. Gen Ziaul Haq, he recalled, could have completed the project in his tenure, but he let it in political abyss.

Mr Gujjar warned that in the absence of the Kalabagh Dam neither politicians not engineers would be in a position to strengthen the national economy.

Tahir Khan proposed that new projects should be suspended and funds allocated for them should be utilized to complete the ongoing schemes.

He regretted that the power wing of the irrigation department had been neglected by the government.

Arshad Buggoo, Maj Asghar (retired), Firza Raja and Rais Muhammad Iqbal also expressed their views on the Punjab irrigation system.