Ministry mulls over measure to restore Kuchhi canal

Water Resources and Interior Ministry Monday discussed the steps to provide relief to the farmers hit by the closure of the Kachhi canal and its restoration in the federal capital, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, while presiding over the meeting with water resources minister Ahmad Irfan Aslam said that the restoration project of the Kachhi canal is a priority as the poor and suffering farmers of Balochistan solely depend on it for drinking and sowing the Kharif crops.

The recent floods have wreaked havoc in the Kachhi canal cracking it in 129 different points along its length and completely blocking it with the excessive sand, the ministers were briefed in the meeting.

Water resources minister Ahmad Irfan said that the work has started on the Kuchhi Canal project as it is vital for the economic development and growth of Balochistan. He said that 363 km of the canal were completed for the irrigation of 72000 acres of land which was destroyed by the floods.

Interior minister said that the availability of clean water to the public has been severely affected due to the havoc in the canal. He said that two storage dams should be built over the canal which will not only help in preventing floods but also increase the fertility of the land.

They directed the provincial and federal authorities to put in effort and get the canal restored as soon as possible.