Gujranwala: Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Usman Buzdar on Tuesday visited the Khanki Barrage to inspect its uplift arrangements, according to a news report. The aim of this trip was to ensure the barrage’s readiness to mitigate the expected negative impact of the upcoming flooding season.
For this purpose, he instructed all relevant line departments to remain alert and meticulously monitor the water levels in the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab Rivers. The CM also revealed that he would visit and inspect other headworks as well.
During the visit, the irrigation secretary told the CM that the authorities had constructed a 27-kilometers (KM)-long road from Wazirabad to the Khanki Barrage. In addition, he informed Buzdar about setting up a vocational center and a recreational park in the area. The secretary also briefed the CM about the water situation of various rivers in the region.
The Khanki Barrage was originally constructed in 1892, and lies on the Chenab River. With the help of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project has been upgraded and a new barrage has been built there at a cost of PKR 300 million and PKR 21 billion. This will guarantee a flow of 11,500 cusecs in the Lower Chenab Canal throughout the year, and with a constant supply of water to 2,825 water channels along the 4,689-KM-long irrigation system. This means that it will irrigate over 3,301 million acres in Gujranwala, Toba Tek Singh, Hafizabad, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Nankana Sahib, and Sheikhupura.
