The federal government on Friday approved and signed the revised PC-1 of 'Remodelling of Warsak Gravity Canal and Warsak Lift Canal Systems. The Government has already started work over the project which will increase water flow from the current 500 cusecs to 810 cusecs to irrigate barren land measuring thousands of acres. It would also ensure provision of 300 cusecs water to Peshawar city and Hayatabad Township for drinking purpose.
The Chief Minister on Friday held a detailed meeting with the Federal Minister regarding this and some other projects of vital importance to the province and the nation where this one was approved instantly and a number of issues resolved involving such projects. The meeting was attended by senior officers/secretaries both from the Federal and Provincial Governments; the meeting also discussed the 874 MW Suki Kinari Hydropower Project, issues in Gomal Zam and Pehur High Leel Canal, Women University Swat and CRBC.
To enhance water supply from Warsak Dam, an additional five kilometres tunnel alongside the already functional tunnel would be built in the mountains in Khyber Agency.
At the time of construction of the two canals 53 years ago, the area was supposed to be provided water measuring 100,500 acres. However, currently, two-thirds of the said area is receiving water leaving the rest barren.
The project management unit (PMU) of KP is already in place for the canal remodelling, a condition of the federal government for release of funds. The project director and other staff have also been appointed to the PMU. However, removal of encroachments from both sides of the canals and slow funding by the Federal Government had been delaying the execution of the project since 2009.
The Suki Kinari Hydropower project is one of the largest private sector initiatives in Pakistan which would cost US$1.8billion. The KP's Private power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and S.K Hydro Private limited had already signed an implementation agreement in this regard. The Chief Minister on this occasion invited the Federal Minister as well as the Planning Commission to participate in the Road Show of development Projects organised by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in China next month.