Canal de-silting and repair: Provinces asked to complete work on time

Ministry directs power companies to keep sufficient oil reserves.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf has asked all the provinces to strictly adhere to the annual canal closure schedule and complete the de-silting and repair work and the construction of related infrastructure from December 26 to January 31.

According to a spokesman for the water and power ministry, Ashraf said this while presiding over an inter-provincial meeting held on Tuesday to review the current water availability, the forthcoming canal closure and its impact on hydropower generation.

The minister asked the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) chairman to ensure judicious water releases for meeting crop requirements, while giving due consideration to generating maximum possible electricity from hydel resources during canal closure. Power generating companies were asked to keep sufficient reserves of oil in order to mitigate the effect of less hydropower generation during the canal closure.

Earlier, an Irsa official briefed the meeting on inflows and outflows in December and January. The official said water situation in dams was much better this year as compared to the previous year.

Officials told the meeting that provincial water requirements were being met and there would be no shortage of water for Rabi crops. Besides, water in storages would also benefit Kharif crops in the early part of the season next year.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2010.