LAHORE/QUETTA: Following completion of the first phase of the Kachhi canal project, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) on Thursday began filling up the 363-kilometre-long main canal with water.

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is scheduled to inaugurate the canal in the second week of September by releasing water into its distribution systems which will irrigate nearly 72,000 acres of land in the far-flung areas of Dera Bugti district.

Wapda has started filling the canal with water from the head regulator at the Taunsa barrage to test the main canal and its various structures.

The multi-billion-rupee project was launched during the regime of retired Gen Pervez Musharraf in 2002 and was supposed to be ready by the end of 2008. However, the project missed several deadlines due to lack of funds and other problems. This only led to the escalation in the project’s cost — from Rs31.2 billion to Rs80.35bn.

“The Kachhi canal was almost an abandoned project because of the time and cost overruns that occurred due to different reasons. However, with active support of the federal government and excellent work by Wapda engineers, the project was brought back on track and is now finally complete,” said Wapda chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain while speaking to officials during his visit to the project site at Taunsa Barrage.

Wapda officials said the first phase of the project has been completed at a cost of about Rs80bn. The canal starts at Taunsa Barrage in Muzaffargarh district and ends at Dera Bugti district in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2017