960415

'Iwasri' carrying

out research on

anti-seepage

canal linings

TANVIR ZAHID

Lahore: 'Surface Water' section of International Waterlogging and Research Institute (IWASRI), headquartered at Lahore, is busy conducting research study on "Performance Evaluation of Different Types of Canal Linings in Fordwah Eastern Sadiqia (South) Irrigation and Drainage Project" in Bahawalnagar district of Punjab Province.

The research study is being carried out under the project being financed by the International Development Association (IDA). The project is estimated to cost Rs.2296.360 million including foreign aid of Rs.1496.970 million and is scheduled to be completed by June 1998.

According to WAPDA sources, the study aims at providing technical guidelines on use of different lining materials/types with respect to seepage control, life expectancy, hydraulic performance and economic viability and involves thorough evaluation of conventional and new lining materials and types, particularly experimenting with use of flexible geomembrance lining systems with protective concrete cover on about 175 Kilometres length of different small irrigation channels underlain by marginal to highly saline ground water.

About 37 kilometres length of four channels has been selected by IWASRI for setting up pilot scale experimental lining installations.

Sources said that as part of IWASRI's research plan, a number of prelining ponding experimentations were carried out on representative sections during canal closure period in December 1995 /January 1996 by the Surface Water section research team in collaboration with International Sedimentation Research Institute Pakistan.