Non-availability of water in Marwat Canal triggers concerns

LAKKI MARWAT: Senior parliamentarian and former member of the National Assembly Humayun Saifullah Khan has expressed concern over the non-availability of water in the Marwat Canal for the tail-end areas, urging the provincial authorities of the irrigation department to take immediate steps in this regard.

In a letter addressed to the provincial irrigation secretary, Humayun Saifullah said that the uprising of the Baran dam along with rehabilitation of the Marwat Canal had been completed with a huge chunk of funds provided by the both federal and provincial governments.

“The federal and provincial governments spent huge funds on the dam project with a ratio 80:20 percent and its benefits could reach the local population,” he maintained.

He said that several villages, including Jabukhel, Ahmadzai, Mir Hazar Khanzadkhel, Daggar Killay, Goraka Dilasa Shah, Goraka Shah Hussain, Ghaznikhel, Lawangkhel, Tajazai and Gulbaz Dehqan were located at the tail-end of the canal and local farmers lacked water for their lands.

He stressed the need for taking immediate steps to ensure flow of water in the canal to tail-end lands.

The former lawmaker said that unavailability of water in the Marwat Canal had become a major public issue, proving disastrous for local growers and badly impacting the agriculture sector and lives of local population.

He asked the provincial government to use water from rivers, streams, lakes and other natural bodies of water for public purposes.