Work launched to repair major breach in canal

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and Chief Secretary Kazim Niaz on Sunday took note of a major breach in the Machi branch of Upper Swat canal and directed the officials to restore water supply and save crops from damages.

The breach suspended the water supply to farmers of Mardan, Upper and Swabi, Malakand district and parts of Nowshera district.

Chief Secretary Kazim Niaz called Secretary Irrigation Department Tahir Aurakzai and Chief Engineer (North) Nasir Ghafoor Khan to know about the emergency situation caused due to earthquake that had caused the damage Friday morning.

Nasir Ghafoor Khan shared information about the repair work with the chief secretary, saying that under emergency law, the contractor had been mobilized at the site of the breach.

The chief secretary authorized secretary Irrigation to take very assistance and mobilize resources from any department to restore supplies in the shortest time.

The contractor has been fully mobilized, machinery and construction material shifted to the site and restoration work was going on round-the-clock.

The damaged embankment will be reconstructed to restore water supply to the affected areas.

The farmers are desperately waiting for the water supply to be restored as the supply to the main canal has been discontinued, resulting in huge losses to the crops of tobacco, sugarcane, maize, orchards, and vegetable fields, etc.