ID and WAPDA will evolve a plan for brick lining DG Khan Canal

Lahore: Senior Advisor to Chief Minister, Senator Sardar Zulifqar Ali Khan Khosa has said that the officials of Irrigation Department and WAPDA should evolve a master plan jointly for brick lining DG Khan Canal so that the problem of salinity and wastage of water could be solved on priority basis.

He was presiding over a meeting at 90-Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, here today. Chairman WAPDA Syed Raghib Shah, Secretary WAPDA Imtiaz Tajwar, Secretary Irrigation, Chief Engineer Irrigation & Chief Engineer Khichi Canal Tahir Khan Khosa as well as other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

Senator Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa said that brick lining of DG Khan Canal is a national problem and need of the hour. He said that due to the non-brick lining of DG Khan Canal, the water does not reach tale-ends and lakhs of acres of land has been affected due to seepage and salinity. Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa said that the residents of the area have to face great difficulties due to hill torrents coming from Koh Suleman, therefore, proper arrangement for disposal of this water is utmost essential.

Chairman WAPDA Syed Raghib Abbas Shah assured the resolution of the long standing problem of DG Khan Canal on priority basis by utilizing all available resources. He disclosed that WAPDA experts are evolving a short, mid and long term project for protecting the people of the area from the devastations of hill torrents. He said that draft PC-1 for the short-term project has been prepared under first phase which will cost six billion rupees. He said that this project is being sent to federal government for approval.

Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa directed Secretary Irrigation to activate the experts of Irrigation Department in this regard so that they should keep a close liaison with WAPDA experts and provide them every possible help.