Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti has termed effective canal system essential for self-sufficiency in agricultural products. He said that important projects like Bazai Irrigation Scheme, small dams and Chashma Left canal scheme were part of government’s comprehensive strategy.
He was talking to a delegation of consultants, contractors and engineers of Bazai Irrigation Scheme under its Project Director at Chief Minister’s House on Thursday. The Chief Minister upon inauguration of Bazai Irrigation scheme last week has lauded the efforts of these people and invited them to Peshawar.
Secretary Irrigation Khalid Pervez, Sher Akbar Khan from Chief Minister Camp office Mardan and Co-ordinator Javed Yousafzai were also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister lauded the efforts of Project Director Sajjad Ahmad Khan and other Engineers on realising this project for agriculture development in the area and awarded them honorary certificates on behalf of the provincial government.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister said that unfortunately due to lack of suitable canal systems in the province we can’t benefit from our share of water. He said that planning has been chalked out for benefiting from yearly flow of water. He said that the strategy drafted in consultation with entire political parties of the province for utilisation of hydel power revenues for the production of electricity and development of water sector in the province has been implemented. He said that the government has decided to obtain foreign loans only for revenues generating projects.
He said that Chashma Left Canal Project will be implemented with cooperation of World Bank (WB) and the process in this connection was in progress. He lauded performance of department and efforts of engineers in prompt rehabilitation and reconstruction of last year flood devastated Munda Head Works, and hope that entire net work of Bazai Irrigation project will complete by June and it will usher green revolution in the area and will bring pleasant changes in economic status of farmers.
The project director thanked the Chief Minister on encouraging the staff and assured that the staff will leave no stone unturned for achieving objectives of the projects. He termed services of consultant, contractor and engineers as remarkable. Provincial Secretary Khalid Pervez and Project Director Sajjad Ahmad Khan presented a briefing on background of the project.
It is pertinent to mention here that agriculture production of the area stood at 8,780 metric ton. Entire distributaries of Bazai Irrigation scheme will complete by June that will enhance volume of agriculture production of the area to 260,834 metric ton. The project will cost Rs 3400.661 million and will irrigate 25,000 acre barren land out of which 20000 acre land was that of district Mardan and 5000 acre from Malakand.
The total length of main Canal is 39.092 with 21 total distributaries and minors and three tunnels having length 1626 kilometers. The water flow from it will be 200 cusecs. Meanwhile, the CM offered shields and certificates to secretary irrigation, project director, engineers and consultant.
