SIALKOT, April 15: The Punjab irrigation department has constructed a subsidiary weir in the Upper Chenab Canal at Head Bambaanwala in Daska tehsil. Minister for Irrigation Aamir Sultan Cheema inaugurated the weir at a ceremony at Head Bambaanwala on Thursday.

Mr Cheema later told newsmen that the weir has the capacity of irrigating 1.1 million acres in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Okara districts. Water in the weir would be stored through BRB Canal which flows in areas bordering India.

"Now we have no fear of any shortage of canal waters in the Punjab if India closes the water of Pakistani CBDC and Deepalpur canals from its Madhupur and Ferozepur headworks as it did in 1955.

"The areas would now be irrigated through the BRB Daska Canal, specially in mid-September and mid-May every year when there could be water shortage in River Chenab for irrigation purposes." He said that the weir would be helpful in solving the problems of shortage and non-availability of irrigation water to the tail-end growers.

Earlier, Head Marala Link XEN Chaudhry Amjad Saeed informed the minister that the 17.5 feet high subsidiary weir has cost Rs.75 million. The existing head at Bambaanwala was insufficient for the smooth flow of water in BRB Daska Canal.

The BRB canal had been diverted to the Upper Chenab Canal for the construction of the subsidiary weir on main line lower. The barrages, head regulators, and thaals had been designed at a specific head across the system.

Most portions of the weir had been kept below than the under ground water level. The XEN said that the supply of maximum stored canal water would be ensured in the weir and its release in the BRB Canal for irrigating 1.1 million acres in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Okara districts.

He said that 95 per cent work on the weir had been completed while the rest would be completed till April 30. Minister for Industries and Investment Ajmal Cheema, Sialkot District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid, MPAs Chaudhry Mumtaz Ali, Khush Akhtar Subhani and Chaudhry Ansar Iqbal also attended the ceremony.