Work on CRBC to start next financial year: CM

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak Thursday said that work on the Rs121 billion Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) project would start in next financial year.

Talking to elected representatives of the southern districts at the Chief Minister’s House, he said that resources would be allocated for the project in the upcoming fiscal year.He added that the project was approved after consistent effort for two years, said a handout.

He clarified that the provincial government would provide 35 percent resources for the project while 65 percent funds would be provided by federal government. He said that the much delayed project was made possible due to the continued efforts of the parliamentary leaders of various parties of the province. “The political leaders of the province struggled for 15 years and finally compelled the Council of Common Interest to approve the project,” he remarked.

After completion of the project, he said, the province will be in a position to utilise its due share of water. He added that federal government sponsored different projects in three provinces of the country while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was deprived of any federal government funded development projects.

Pervez Khattak said that provincial irrigation department would execute and monitor the project. The chief minister directed to expedite preparatory arrangements for the project to ensure its execution next year. He said that the project would provide employment opportunities to the people of the area.Provincial secretary for irrigation said that the project would benefit 19 villages and 2,46,140 acres of land while its total length would be 582 miles.