Kundi presses WAPDA over canal water theft

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday directed the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to take immediate measures to address the water shortage in the Chashma Right Bank Canal (Crbc) and resolve the concerns of farmers in Dera Ismail Khan.

The directives came during a meeting at the Governor House with Wapda General Manager (North) Alamgir Awan and Chief Engineer Taj Ali, where the prevailing water situation in the canal and irrigation issues affecting southern districts were reviewed.

The Wapda general manager said that around 4,000 cusecs of water are currently being released into the canal, but nearly 900 cusecs are lost due to water theft, significantly reducing supplies to tail-end areas.

Expressing concern over the shortage, Kundi said delays in the rehabilitation of the canal had disrupted water distribution, causing heavy losses to farmers and agricultural production. He noted that inadequate irrigation had forced growers to stage protests.

The governor said he had also contacted provincial irrigation officials to ensure coordination among relevant institutions for equitable water distribution.

He added that he would soon meet the Wapda chairman and other authorities to discuss the canal's rehabilitation, curb water theft and find a long-term solution to the issue.

Separately, Kundi welcomed the establishment of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (Siut) in Dera Ismail Khan, describing it as a major healthcare initiative for the province.

He thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the Sindh government for launching the Rs1 billion project.

Kundi said land acquisition was in its final stages and expressed hope that construction would begin soon.