PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Irrigation Department, under the guidance of Provincial Minister for Irrigation Riaz Khan has intensified efforts to accelerate ongoing development projects aimed at flood protection, expansion of water storage, improvement of the canal network and promotion of agricultural development across the province.
According to his office on Sunday, the provincial government has declared flood protection, increasing water storage capacity and modernizing the irrigation system among its top priorities. The Irrigation Department is currently implementing a number of major projects in settled and merged tribal districts, including Dera Ismail Khan, Upper and Lower Chitral, Peshawar, Khyber, Kohat, Hangu, Haripur, Mohmand, North Waziristan and Tank.
One of the major projects is the Chashma Right Bank Canal (Lift-cum-Gravity) project in Dera Ismail Khan, which aims at bringing around 286,000 acres of barren land under cultivation. The project is expected to boost agricultural production and improve the socio-economic conditions of local communities by providing a sustainable and reliable irrigation system.
In Upper and Lower Chitral, a flood protection and irrigation channels project has been included among the province’s key development schemes. Approved by the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP), the project envisages construction of 11.18 kilometres of protective structures to safeguard 583 acres of agricultural land, 181 houses and shops, 25 irrigation channels and other infrastructure from flood damage.
A comprehensive flood protection, irrigation channels, check dams and canal roads project has also received PDWP approval for 15 districts of northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project will provide irrigation facilities to 14,598 acres, construct 34 kilometres of protective walls to protect around 13,000 acres from floods, build 16 check dams and establish 18 kilometres of canal patrol roads.
In merged tribal districts, the Irrigation Department is implementing several projects to improve water management and protect communities from floods. In Mohmand district, an irrigation network expansion project aims to provide irrigation facilities to 17,656 acres of agricultural land. The project includes construction of 11.77 kilometres of canals on the right bank and 12.20 kilometres on the left bank. The preliminary design has been completed, while preparation of the PC-I is in progress.
Another major initiative in the merged districts involves the construction of check dams and water-storage reservoirs. The project is expected to provide irrigation to 3,326 acres and protect 12,312 acres from flood damage. Around 2,146 houses and 97,581 people are also expected to benefit from improved flood protection.
In North Waziristan, the rehabilitation of the Danda Small Dam has been approved with a target of irrigating 2,000 acres. Work on the project is currently suspended due to administrative reasons, while efforts are underway for its revival.
In Peshawar, the rehabilitation and improvement of the Warsak Left Bank Canal involves work on a 6.5-kilometre canal and its adjoining road. The project is expected to bring around 1,000 acres of new land under cultivation, with construction of a bridge over Subhan Khwar also included.
In Khyber district, the Jabba Dam project will provide 50 cusecs of clean drinking water and irrigation facilities to 350 acres. The project is expected to contribute to agricultural development, tourism, groundwater recharge and reduction of flood risks and energy costs.
The Choudwan Zam Dam project in Dera Ismail Khan is another initiative that would have a storage capacity of 60,096 acre-feet and provide irrigation to around 42,000 acres. The project is expected to generate approximately 46,000 tons of agricultural production annually, create employment opportunities for around 134,400 people and provide clean drinking water to about 78,000 people. Its PC-I is currently under consideration.
Similarly, the Tank Zam, Haider Zam and Daraband Zam dam projects in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan will collectively store around 506,180 acre-feet of water and irrigate 104,734 acres. The projects are expected to generate around 280,000 tons of agricultural production annually, create employment opportunities for approximately 224,000 people and provide clean drinking water to around 222,000 people. Preparation of their PC-Is is underway.
In Kohat, the provincial government has approved the Samari Payan Dam project through a PDWP meeting. The project will store rainwater for irrigation, help recharge groundwater and improve water availability for the local population, while also contributing to increased agricultural production.
The Torawari Dam project in Hangu will have a storage capacity of 7,369 acre-feet and irrigate around 7,000 acres. It is expected to generate approximately 81,675 tons of agricultural production annually, create employment opportunities for 22,400 people and provide clean drinking water to nearly 24,980 people. Its PC-I is awaiting approval.
In Haripur, the Barwasa Dam project will store 1,111 acre-feet of water and provide irrigation to around 1,110 acres. It is expected to generate 7,070 tons of agricultural production annually, create employment for 3,552 people and provide clean drinking water to around 6,000 people.
The Bara Dam project in Khyber district, proposed under AIP-III, is another major multi-purpose scheme. It is planned to irrigate 41,729 acres, generate 6 megawatts of electricity, create employment opportunities for around 133,500 people and provide clean drinking water to approximately 517,000 people. Preparation of the PC-I is currently underway.
Since assuming the portfolio of the Irrigation Department, Provincial Minister Riaz Khan has reviewed ongoing development schemes and received detailed briefings from relevant officials. He has directed authorities to accelerate work on all ongoing projects so that their benefits can reach the public at the earliest.
The department has refocused its priorities on flood protection, increasing water storage capacity, improving the canal network and maximizing irrigation facilities for agricultural land. Particular attention is being given to areas that have suffered severe flood damage in the past, with instructions to speed up the construction and rehabilitation of protective embankments, flood protection walls and other structures.
The minister has also emphasized the construction of small and medium-sized dams, saying that better water storage can help address water shortages while increasing agricultural production. He has directed officials to accelerate progress on ongoing and proposed schemes and improve canal infrastructure to ensure fair and timely distribution of irrigation water to farmers.
Riaz Khan has further instructed officials to ensure that quality, speed and transparency are not compromised in development projects. He stressed that the proper use of public resources is a key responsibility of the provincial government and that negligence would not be tolerated.
The Irrigation Department, under the provincial government’s direction, is seeking to develop a more efficient and public-oriented irrigation system capable of protecting communities from floods, strengthening agricultural production and ensuring sustainable use of the province’s water resources.
