The Provincial Minister for Irrigation and Power (I&P) and senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Raja Riaz has said that Tarbela Dam would be filled up to capacity by Friday (tomorrow), while efforts to fill Mangla Dam were underway.
While addressing a press conference here on Wednesday at irrigation headquarters he said, "there was no shortage of water in provincial canals due to recent heavy rains." He informed that adequate water had been released in all canals while more than requirement water for southern Punjab had already been released for the cotton crop. He said that the department had chalked out comprehensive plan and methodology to stop water theft across the province.
Furthermore, he said that concerned officers had been directed to visit their areas regularly besides committees formed at sub-division levels for inspection. At canal circle level, committees of DCO's and MPA's had been formed and severe action would be taken, without discrimination, against the culprit.
In addition, he informed that irrigation department was expecting to receive Rs 30 million grants from Federal government for the remodelling the canal system and other uplift program.
He added that out of ten proposed hydel power plants, feasibility report of seven had been completed while a 96 MW power plant at Taunsa was being pursued as priority project. Highlighting the flood situation, Raja Riaz said the rivers were in low flood situation at the moment and no major reports of losses had been received.
He further said the government planned to waive off Abiana of farmers in Sutlej flood-hit area including Kasur, Pakpattan, Vehari and Bahawalpur. Asked why the government had appointed a new head to Kalah Bagh Dam (KBD) project when it announced to shelve the project, Riaz said the final wind-up decision of the project would be announced soon.
He also added that new provincial hydel projects would be completed by private companies and open bidding would be held soon in this regard. Riaz informed during the anti-water-theft campaign, it had been found that only in Rahimyarkhan district there were 53 proper leakages in canals made by local farmers.
However, he declined to disclose names of the farmers when he said that many of them were big guns. To another question, Riaz said the PIDA model being practised in India, which left canal system under complete control of farmers was not applicable in Pakistan. He added that joint ventures in this regard could prove more useful. To another query, Riaz said small water reservation dams would be constructed in Chakwal, Mianwali, Rajanpur and DG Khan.
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