MIANWALI: The inclusion of Kas Umar Khan canal remodeling project in the current fiscal’s Annual Development Programme of Punjab has delighted farmers of Isakhel tehsil.

The two centuries old water channel, described by some locals as a heritage project, will irrigate a vast area after its completion. Irrigation officials say it will take two years.

Credit for its inclusion in ADP goes to Irrigation Minister Amanatullah Khan Shadi Khel, who hails from Isakhel.

Rs5bn project to benefit Isakhel tehsil

The ‘neglected’ Isakhel tehsil bordering KP has vast tracts of baron land due to water shortage. It heavily depends on rain and, to some extent, on Kas Umar canal. The mighty Indus which passes through the tehsil cannot benefit it due to higher ground level.

According to the revenue record, the Isakhel tehsil is spread over 457,958 acres. Of it only 296,534 acres are irrigated through canal, tubewell and rain.

As the history goes, the Khans of Isakhel had been main landowners of the area for long. One of them -- Mohammad Omer Khan s/o Khan Zaman Khan who died in 1825 -- floated the idea to construct a canal to irrigate baron lands of the area.

A 15km-long canal was dug from Kurram river at Dara Tang, entrance point in Punjab from KP, up to Kaloor Sharif village. He constructed an earth-filled spur on River Kurram to divert its water into the canal.

The River Kurram runs from KP and falls into the Indus at Kundal in Isakhel tehsil. It swells during torrential rains due to hill torrents from surrounding mountains.

British Major Edward, who served in the area, referred to Kas Umar Khan canal in his book “A year on the Punjab Frontier in 1848-49”. He narrated that during 1848 the canal had a vast command area.

The Mianwali Gazetteer of 1915 also discussed this water channel as a seasonal canal fed by the River Kurram. The gazetteer further revealed that other Khans of Isakhel tried to follow Omer Khan in the year 1890 and constructed a number of canals from the Kurram to irrigate katcha area of Isakhel but with the passage of time these canals fade away.

In 1890, Abdul Raheem Khan made a tunnel to irrigate the area on other side of a mountain but it disappeared due to landslide.Till 1985, Kas Omer Khan canal was looked after by local farmers but the Punjab government took its control and handed it over to the irrigation department.

Sources said keeping in view the importance of CPEC western route passing through three districts, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had formed six working groups to prepare reports on farm development in Mianwali, Attock and Chakwal.

A working group headed by Irrigation Minister Amanatullah Khan Shadi Khel recommended several projects for these districts, including Rs5,000 million Kas Omer Khan canal remodeling project with a barrage at the River Kurram.

The group also suggested the river training works programme from Jinnah Barrage to Chashma over Indus worth Rs3,000 million, Potohar Smart Irrigation and Agriculture programme worth Rs2,000 million for Chakwal district, Mari Dam in Attok worth Rs15,000 million and Gangowal dam worth Rs12,000 million in Chakwal.

In its first step of agricultural development of the area, the Punjab government has included the Kas Omer Khan Canal in the current ADP. Under the project, a dam has been proposed at the River Kurram while the canal will be reconstructed with concrete lining to increase its capacity and length up to 39km which will irrigate lands up to Mauza Jalalpur.

On completion, it will benefit villages Bhor Sharif, Isakhel, Sarwar Khel, Kaloanwala, Kaloor Sharif, Tarag, Qamar-Mushani and Jalalpur. At present it irrigates 6,000 acres and after completion it is supposed to cover 107,000 acres.

Official sources said feasibility and geotec investigation of the project was going on. The designing and PC-I of the barrage was under progress and physical work on the project was expected to start this year.

Zafrullah Khan, a senior lawyer of Isakhel, told Dawn that remodeling of this historic canal would certainly change the agriculture of Isakahel tehsil.Khalid Masood Khan, a Khan of Isakhel tribe, told Dawn that it was their dream.

Kalabagh division irrigation executive engineer Shabir Haider told Dawn that formalities of the Kas Omer Khan project were nearing completion and tenders would be floated in a couple of months.

He said the canal at present was seasonal (from October to March) but after remodeling it would run round the year.

Minister Amanatullah Khan Shadi Khel told Dawn his working group had proposed many farm development projects but luckily the CM sanctioned the project of Mianwali in the first step.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018