Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has awarded contract worth Rs 59.28 million for preparation of feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs for rehabilitation of the three canals including Rohri, Dadu and Rice canals in Sindh. In this regard a German firm Messers Huesker made a presentation on canal lining to the Chairman Wapda at Wapda House here on Wednesday.
Member (Water) Syed Raghib Abbas Shah, Wapda Secretary Imtiaz Tajwar and officers concerned were also present. Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman said that before undertaking the construction work, technical report would be evaluated. Afterwards, financial report will also be analysed to determine the cost effect.
Wapda is keen to use latest techniques of canal lining for completion of this vital task in the shortest possible time without compromising quality of work, he added. The Chairman said that lining of Rohri, Dadu and Rice canals will help conserve approximately 2,800 cusecs of water to irrigate 492,000 acres of additional land.
Benefits from water saving have been estimated at around Rs 11 billion annually, he added. He further said that in addition to developing water storage capacity in Pakistan, Wapda is also working for rehabilitation of the existing irrigation network by launching a project for lining.