PESHAWAR – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that construction work of Chasma Lift Canal Project would be initiated in the next financial year at a cost of Rs 121 billion which will irrigate 246140 acre of land and benefit 0.25 million population.
He was talking to elected representatives of southern districts of the province at the CM House. Commenting on the project, Khattak said that much delayed project was made possible due to the unified struggle of the parliamentary leaders of various parties of the province.
“It was the collective struggle of the provincial political leadership of the province which compelled the council of common interest to approve the 15 years long standing project,” he remarked. He said after completion of the project, the province would be in a position to utilise its due share of water.
He informed that two years long and consistent efforts of the provincial government had made approval of the project possible. The chief minister said that resources would be allocated for the project in coming fiscal year to initiate work on it. He clarified that according to agreement, the provincial government would provide 35 per cent resources for the project while the rest 65 per cent will be funded by the centre.
Giving detail of the project, he said that provincial irrigation department would execute and monitor the project as well. He directed for speed up preparatory arrangements for the project to ensure its execution next year. He said that the project would provide employment opportunities to people of the area.
The provincial secretary for Irrigation highlighting the salient feature of the project said that project would benefit 19 villages and 246140 acres of land while its total length would be 582 miles. He informed that the Chashma Lift Canal would have a capacity of 2613 cusec water.
Minister for Irrigation Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao, Minister for Revenue Ali Amin Gandapur, Special Assistant for Transport Malik Shah Muhammad Wazir, Member of Provincial Assembly Ihtesham, Secretary Irrigation Akhter Rasheed and Chashma Lift Canal focal person Muhammad Iqbal Khalil were also present on the occasion.
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