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Army role brings down desilting cost

MULTAN: The involvement of the Pak Army in the gigantic task of desilting of canals has significantly reduced the expenditures incurred on it.

This was revealed by Brig. Mohammad Asghar, Commander Corps Engineers, Multan, at a Press briefing, at old Corps Headquarters here.

He said, before the Army's involvement, the expenses incurred on each cubic foot of desilting amounted to paisa 58 but now this has been brought down to just 23 paisa.

While elaborating, Brig. Asghar said, the desilting work is carried out in two ways. Some of the task is done on self-help basis. Farmers of the area concerned usually take part in such an exercise.

The other means of desilting is awarding contract on payment. The contract-based expenses have been heavily cut by involvement of the Army jawans and its officers, he added.

Giving statistics, Brig. Asghar said, in Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan zones, in total, 2,563 miles length is being desilted. Some 409 channels are to be desilted during the exercise, he added.

He said, 7,000 Army personnel will be deployed to accomplish the task. Besides, over 26,000 people from among the beneficiaries, i.e., farmers and peasants, will also participate in the programme, he added.

The Commander, Corps Engineers, said the Army men won't claim any allowance for this labour. Rather, they wil do it in the national spirit, he said.

Brig. Asghar said our irrigation system is fed by two reservoirs, Tarbela and Mangla Dams. The Mangla Dam feeds perennial canals while the Tarbela Dam feeds the non-perennial (half-yearly) canals.

He said, the Mangla Command Canals will be desilted from January 2 to 19, while the Tarbela Command Canals are to be desilted in two phases. The first phase will start from January 15 to end on February 7, while the second phase will begin on February 20 and will continue till March 15, 2000.

Brig. Asghar said it is regrettable that task such as desilting is done with the assistance of the World Bank. But, he hoped, now with the involvement of the Army in this nation-building exercise, the country will be able to get rid of foreign funding.

He said due to non-repair, non-desilting of canals or water theft usually by feudals, influentials and politicians, the tailenders remain deprived of their share in the canal water.

He gave instance of Mogera distributory where the tailenders remained without irrigation water for about six years. He said "and nobody redressed grievance of the poor tillers."

Brig. Asghar said this will not be allowed by the present government to continue any more. It will be ensured that water-thieves face their deserts and the tail-enders get their share, he added.

To a question he said, about Rs 30 million will be spent on the desilting programme in Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan zones.

He said some of the troops who are on their routine exercise will report straight at the desilting sites without taking respite from their hectic professional training exercise.

Brig. Mohammad Asghar said it is worth-mentioning that despite fasting during this holy month of Ramazan the Army jawans are committed to finish the task as per the schedule.

He said in view of the irrigation needs of the wheat crop the decision has been taken at the high-level to complete the task on time despite fasting by the Army men and volunteers.

Divisional Commissioner Multan Nasir Mehmud Khosa and Chief Engineer (Irrigation) Multan, Hafeezullah Cheema also attended the briefing and replied to some of the relevant questions proffered by the mediamen. APP