High-Level Meeting Reviews Progress on Kacchi Canal Restoration

Quetta:a high-level review meeting on the restoration and development of the Kacchi Canal was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Water Resources, Syed Mohsin Ali Shah. The meeting saw participation from Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti via video link, who presented Balochistan’s stance on the issue.

Chief Minister Bugti highlighted that the first phase of the Kacchi Canal was completed over 22 years, leading to the irrigation of previously barren lands and the settlement of numerous families. However, three years after its completion, the canal suffered breaches due to flooding in 2022, which halted water flow and left the previously cultivated land barren again. Although the affected DG Canal was restored, the Kacchi Canal remained closed, creating a disparity between functioning and non-functioning canals, which added to the sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan.

Bugti reported that many families dependent on agriculture from the Kacchi Canal have faced economic hardship over the past two years, with watercourses becoming silted and a large number of people being forced to migrate. The Chief Minister emphasized the urgent need for water restoration in the canal and urged that, under Proposal 2 by WAPDA, water should be restored in Phase 1 before commencing the long-term plans for Phases 2 and 3. He noted that past floods, including the severe 2010 flood, caused less damage to the canal compared to 2022. He suggested that with expert assistance, the canal’s design could be improved to mitigate future flooding.

Federal Minister Syed Mohsin Ali Shah agreed with the Chief Minister’s recommendations and directed WAPDA officials to take immediate actions for water restoration in Kacchi Canal Phase 1. He assured that the federal government would address all concerns regarding water resources and resolve any related issues. The meeting also emphasized that progress on this matter would be reviewed in future sessions.

Attendees of the meeting included Balochistan’s Provincial Minister for Irrigation, Mir Sadiq Umrani, and various senior officials from Balochistan, including Additional Chief Secretary Development and Planning Hafiz Abdul Basit, Principal Secretary Imran Zarkon, Additional Secretary Mohammad Fareedon, Secretary Irrigation Hafiz Abdul Majid, and other relevant authorities.