PESHAWAR
The annual desilting, cleaning, and maintenance campaign of canals has commenced in KP. Provincial Minister for Irrigation, Riaz Khan, formally inaugurated the campaign at Shami Road, Peshawar. Officials of the Irrigation Department gave a detailed briefing to the provincial minister regarding the ongoing desilting, repair, and rehabilitation projects. The minister was informed that maintenance work is underway on a total of 4,060 kilometers of the canal system across the province.
During the current campaign, desilting and cleaning of 2,030 kilometers of canals is being carried out.
An amount of Rs. 441.27 million is being spent on the desilting and cleaning campaign. He was informed that Rs. 285.64 million has been allocated for the repair of canal embankments and lining besides Rs. 89.63 million allocated for the rehabilitation of tube wells and lift irrigation schemes.
Alaike, Rs. 83.47 million has been earmarked for flood protection and drainage projects. The canal system irrigates more than 2.5 million acres of agricultural land.
On the directives of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, repair and rehabilitation work will continue every year during canal closures from January to February, said Riaz Khan.
He said the objective of the desilting campaign is to reduce water losses and ensure equitable distribution.
Water supply to tail-end farmers will be ensured, he said, adding all development projects be completed transparently and within the stipulated time.
“This is an important step towards improved water management and increased agricultural production in the province. The Irrigation Department is taking all possible measures for public welfare to ensure that people receive real facilities, “said the provincial minister.
The provincial government believes in resolving public issues and is utilizing all available resources for this purpose.
He said the Irrigation department will carry out development projects across all sectors of the province without discrimination.
