Sindh Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that irrigation system in Sindh will be improved to ensure judicious canal water distribution and its availability to tail end farmers.
Speaking at a briefing of Irrigation department, the Chief Minister said that work on canal lining starts from this month with project inauguration from Thatta District. He pointed out that there was great need for lining of canals for improvement in the irrigation system and to ensure that water does not go waste.
He said that Britishers established world's best irrigation system in Sindh and Sukkur Barrage was a model example of it. "I want real progress of Sindh and any incompetence on the part of any official will not be tolerated", he warned.
Chief Minister referred to dire need of small dams in Sindh and said these should be constructed in all districts including Tharparkar, Dadu, Larkana and Karachi to bring rainwater under use.
He observed that if earth-fill and gravity dams were constructed in various districts, these could greatly help in storing rainwater. He informed that Rs 433.05 million have been earmarked under Thar package and Agriculture Development Programme (ADP) for small dams in Nangarparkar area of Tharparkar District.
In Kohistan region, he said, small dams, delay action dam and recharge dams will be constructed at a cost of Rs 491.225 million during 2006-07 and he will soon visit these dam sites.
Dr Arbab said that with small dam water, some 63,410 acres of land could be brought under cultivation in Kohistan region while over 511,000 people and 385,000 livestock would get water for drinking.
These dams will be completed in 36 months, he added. On the occasion Chief Minister ordered Chairman CM Inspection Team to immediately investigate in the Command Water Management Scheme and submit report about causes of its failure and strict action be taken against those irrigation officers responsible for it.