Warsak Canal remodelling to greatly benefit farming

Will irrigate thousands of acres in Peshawar, Nowshera

PESHAWAR:

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Irrigation Arshad Ayub Khan Sunday said that the remodeling of Warsak Canal will irrigate thousands of acres of land in Nowshera and Peshawar districts of K-P and it is an important project.

He said that construction of small dams can further promote agriculture by storing water while cultivating maximum area can play a key role in bringing green revolution in a short span of time. He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting about Remodeling of Warsak Canal and Pehor High Level Canal extension projects. The meeting was attended by Secretary Irrigation Ayaz Khan, Project Director Remodeling of Warsak Canal Syed Rehman, Project Director Peshawar High Level Canal Expansion and other officials associated with these projects. He said that the construction of small dams was the top priority of the PTI government since last period and construction projects of small dams have been completed across the province while some are under construction and steps were being taken to start more projects.

Thousands of acres of land in Peshawar and Nowshera can be irrigated with the remodeling of Warsak Canal system, while the completion of the project would add up to 750 cusecs of water, he added. On this occasion, the minister was apprised about the cost, utility, progress and problems faced by the projects.

He was informed that the Peshawar High Level Canal Expansion Project would be completed by December 2023 which would benefit the people of Swabi and Nowshera. The minister expressed satisfaction over the speed of work and directed that no compromise should be made on construction standards.

On the other hand, K-P Minister for Zakat, Usher, Social Welfare and Women Development, Anwar Zeb Khan Sunday visited Raghagan Small Dam in District Bajuar and inspected ongoing construction work on the reservoir.

Talking to media on this occasion, the provincial minister said that for the facilitation of tourism, construction work on a big park, hotel and chairlift was in the final stages at Raghagan Dam.

He said that the dam would be soon opened for tourists under complete security measures, adding that PTI government was taking exemplary steps for the promotion of tourism.

It may be recalled that despite the passage of one decade and spending of Rs420 million, the Raghagan Dam is yet to see the light of day.

A government official said that the Raghagan Dam project was scheduled to be completed in 2014 but due to the frequent changes in its design the project was delayed till June 2018 and after that work was completely suspended following the districts merger.

“After the merger the Fata Development Authority (FDA) was dissolved and the construction work remained suspended for another two years because all funds had been frozen,” he said.

Another official said
that the main purpose of the dam was to irrigate a large area as well as improve the water table underground.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2022.