Cost survey not conducted: Dar okays Rs 10.15 billion canal extension project

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has approved Rs 10.156 billion Pehur High Level Canal Extension (PHLCE) Project without conducting preliminary survey for cost estimation. Sources said that a meeting of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) chaired by the finance minister was also told that a certificate from Indus River System Authority (Irsa) regarding availability of water would be required as the project is designed to meet the irrigation needs of the command area.
About the details of design and construction of the project, preliminary survey of cost estimates has not been conducted, which may cause variation of the cost. The Ecnec was informed that the PHLCE project draws its supplies through Gandaf Tunnel directly which conveys irrigation water from Tarbela Dam reservoir. Presently, no water is available to Janda Boka and Amber areas. However, provision of water allocation for these areas has been made.
The Pehur High Level Canal Extension Project will bring about 8,727 ha (1,316 ha in Janda Boka and 7,411 ha in Indus-Ambar area) of rain-fed land under irrigated agriculture. The Asian Development Bank, on the request of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, launched a Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA- 8488 PAK), which was carried out by ICS-HPK Joint Venture from August 2014 to April 2016. Under the project, previous available feasibility study of the project carried out by BAK-AEGES consultants has been reviewed and updated. Prices have been updated as per current price levels. In addition to structural components, special consideration is made to operation, maintenance and production side of the irrigated agriculture project.
Main objective of the project is to alleviate poverty by increasing agricultural production and farm income in the project area. In order to achieve the objective, the PHLC will be extended to bring about (1,316 ha in Janda Boka and 7,411 ha in Indus-Ambar area) of rains-fed land under irrigated agriculture. The share of KP of required water for canal is available in the Water Accord. The IRSA has already certified water availability for extension of PHLC.
The project comprises two new perennial irrigation systems ie Indus Amber and Janda Boka Canals which will be commanded from the Tarbela Dam via existing Gandaf Tunnel to irrigate areas of districts Swabi and Nowshera. The objective of the project is to increase irrigated agriculture area and ensure food security through increase in crop production over the next decade in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.