K-P revives dormant Chashma project

To set aside Rs20b in next budget; float tender by July

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government is set to allocate a substantial Rs20 billion for the pivotal but long dormant Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) Lift-cum-Gravity project in the upcoming budget.

Recognizing its significance, this allocation underscores the project’s potential to irrigate 286,000 acres of currently barren land, promising a surge in agricultural output, job creation, and propelling the province towards agricultural self-sufficiency.

A crucial meeting convened at Pakhtunkhwa House Islamabad, chaired by Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, saw participation from key officials from both provincial and federal departments.

Deliberations centered on the CRBC project’s implementation, culminating in a unanimous decision to initiate tender proceedings by July, with a directive to ensure timely completion of all prerequisites.

It was resolved that the project would adhere to previously agreed modalities between federal and provincial authorities, with the federal government shouldering 65% of the total costs, and the remaining 35% to be borne by the provincial government.

Additionally, a commitment from the federal government to allocate 10 billion rupees in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of the next fiscal year underscores its national importance.

Chief Minister Gandapur emphasized the CRBC project’s indispensability for provincial and national food security, urging expeditious action to avoid further delays.

He underscored the government’s commitment to prioritizing funds for income-generating projects and urged authorities to expedite the transfer of the CRBC project from WAPDA to the provincial government.

Furthermore, the meeting charted a course for another ambitious project aimed at irrigating an additional 90 thousand acres of land in southern districts, with the chief minister urging immediate action.

Earlier, in a separate meeting of the Agriculture Department, Gandapur underscored the need for innovative policies to modernize the agriculture sector. He emphasized leveraging modern farming technologies, aligning agricultural research with contemporary needs, and exploring opportunities such as saffron cultivation to maximize production while minimizing costs.

During the meeting, a significant decision was reached to allocate Rs20 billion in the development program of the forthcoming fiscal year for the seamless execution of the project. Officials elaborated on its various facets, highlighting the federal government’s pledge of an additional 10 billion rupees in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the following financial year.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2024.