Staff Reporter
Lahore
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar visited Khanki Headworks on Wednesday and inspected the arrangements made for dealing with the possible flood. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister stated that line departments have already been alerted while water situation in Jhelum, Chenab and Sindh rivers is constantly monitored. He announced plans to inspect other headworks as well.
The Irrigation Secretary told that a 27-km long road has been constructed from Wazirabad to Khanki Barrage besides setting up a vocational training centre, BHU and recreational park. He also briefed about the latest water situation in different rivers.
The Khanki Headworks was constructed in 1892 and a new Khanki Barrage has been constructed on Chenab River with the assistance of ADB. An amount of Rs21 billion and 30 crores has been spent on the upgradation project. Up to 11500 cusec water flow would be guaranteed in Lower Chenab Canal round the year along with the continuous supply to 2925 contiguous water channels of 4680-kilometre long irrigation system.
This would help to irrigate 3.301 million acre land of Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Jhang, Chiniot, Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh. This would benefit more than six lac farmer families and the water flow capacity of the barrage, after up-gradation, has increased from eight lac cusec to 11 lac cusec. This would usher in an era of agricultural prosperity besides proving an important step for safety from the floods. Provincial Minister Malik Asad Khokhar, ACS (Infrastructure) and others were also present.
