Balloki Barrage & LBDC: Rehabilitation, upgradation to be completed by March 2015

Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded $218 million project for the rehabilitation and up-gradation of 100 years old Balloki Barrage as well as Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) would be completed by March 2015. According to the officials of Punjab Irrigation department, the completion of the project would decrease flood damage in the command irrigation area of 1.74 million acres which is equal to two thirds of total irrigation land in the province.
A select group of media during a site visit of the project was informed that the rehabilitation of the canal would increase and improve water distribution system for irrigation. The construction of a new spillway of Balloki Barrage would enhance flood water carrying the capacity of the Barrage to 380,000 cusecs from existing 225,000 cusecs.
Deputy Director of the Project Malik Sujat Ali stated that the rehabilitation of lower Bari Doaba Canal would increase water capacity of the canal to 9,841 cusecs to meet the agreed scheme of water distribution from the canal. The actual canal capacity of 9,841 cusecs has declined to 8,200 cusecs due to siltation, he added.
The rehabilitation of Lower Bari Doab Canal improvement is the first project of the provincial government under the Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Investment Programme (PIAP), the official told the media. They added that the ADB has agreed to provide $700 million financing for the (PIAP). However, they acknowledged that the provincial government has been unable to complete the project on time and consequently completion date is now September 2015 instead of original September 2013.
Availability of additional 1,500 cusecs water from Lower Bari Doab Canal after the completion of the project would help irrigate districts Okara, Sahiwal, Kasur and Khanawal. The project would contribute to the prosperity of the farmers' as their dependence on expensive tube-well water would decrease, and availability of additional water would increase farm per acre productivity and agriculture sector's share in the GDP.
Project Deputy Director maintained that the century old system required up-gradation of the channel. We also plan to convert 35 gates of the barrage from manual to motor system to reduce the cost of labour force and increase the response time. Around 70 percent work on the barrage is complete, deputy director project added. He was optimistic that the remaining work would be completed on time.