Key irrigation system to be complete by 2018

Official says Warsak Canal to be remodelled at a cost of Rs12b

PESHAWAR:

The revised cost of remodelling the Warsak Canal System project has increased from Rs8 billion to Rs12.14 billion, an official of the irrigation department told The Express Tribune.

“Costs have escalated due to delays in the release of funds by the federal government, lawlessness in K-P and Fata and an increase in the price of construction materials,” he said.

According to the official, the project is now expected to be completed by 2018 and will provide a steady supply of water for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The project was initiated by the federal government to widen two major canal systems for Peshawar and increase water flow to irrigate barren lands.

Water, water everywhere

Speaking to The Express Tribune, another official, requesting anonymity, said 700 cusecs of water will be added to the existing inflow once the project has been completed.

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“Of this, 300 cusecs will be used for drinking purposes while 400 cusecs will go towards irrigating thousands of acres of barren lands,” he said.



The official added more water was needed to cultivate crops and meet the burgeoning needs of an ever-increasing population as the existing supply is not enough to meet domestic and irrigation needs.

“The government intends to generate electricity from the canal system in future,” the official said. “The current inflow of water in the canal is around 500 cusecs.”

He said a five kilometre-long tunnel would be constructed in the mountains of Khyber Agency from Kabul River near Warsak Dam to increase supply.

“The additional inflow will fulfil the needs of areas in Hayatabad and other townships which will be constructed in future,” he added.

Past and present

According to the official, there is a strong likelihood that the project might be completed by 2022 if there is a shortage of funds.

Another official said the project was approved in 2009 by the National Economic Council.

Read: ‘Over 1 million acres of land to be irrigated in K-P/FATA’

“At that time, they allocated Rs4 billion for it which was later increased to Rs7 billion,” he said. “The cost was further increased to Rs8 billion due to the volatile security situation and an increase in the value of raw materials.”

He said 26 kilometres of construction work on Warsak Canal has been completed, while work on the tunnel will begin soon,.

“The original canals were constructed in 1960 and designed to irrigate barren land in Peshawar district,” he said. “However, water in the canal was not enough to provide irrigation till the tail end.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2015.