PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has installed the Indus Telemetry System at 11 main irrigation canals in the province with the support of the USAID and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

“This cutting-edge technology will revolutionise water management and reporting in the province’s irrigation system,” irrigation minister Aqibullah Khan told a ceremony held here to launch the Indus Telemetry System.

He said the deployment of the system was part of the government’s efforts to ensure sustainable water management and equitable distribution.

“I am keen to see improvement in water governance and resource management. This technology will enhance our capacity to manage water resources efficiently and transparently. I am looking forward to initiating potential projects that will expand irrigated areas, thereby improving food security and the social wellbeing of our province,” he said.

Minister says initiative to ensure sustainable water management, equitable distribution

The minister said previously, the irrigation department relied on outdated methods for flow monitoring.

He said the new technology ensured reliable data collection and facilitates accurate water accounting over crop seasons and annually, as well as aiding in internal audits by comparing diverted water with allocations.

Dr Mohsin Hafeez, country representative of the IWMI, said the Indus Telemetry utilised advanced sensors to monitor flow depth and velocity for estimating actual flows at remote canal locations.

“This flow data is transferred securely via GSM technology to a cloud server, where it is processed and archived. Real-time flow data is then displayed on live data screens accessible to key stakeholders, providing the KP Irrigation Department with instant access to flow records and essential seasonal reports for the Indus River System Authority,” he said.

The IWMI’s country representative said sensors had been strategically installed on the Upper Swat canal, Tanda main irrigation canal, Pehur high-level canal, and other canals, ensuring comprehensive coverage.

He added that the Khanpur Dam left bank canal, an inter-provincial canal, was also monitored by the Indus Telemetry System to oversee water transfer between KP and Punjab.

IWMI researcher and chief of party for USAID-funded Water Management for Enhanced Productivity Dr Azeem Ali Shah said the installation of the Indus Telemetry System was a pivotal step towards bringing transparency, accountability and equity in the canal water distribution system.

He added that the initiative would build trust and foster harmony among the provinces.

Development specialist at the US Agency for International Development Mohammad Nawaz said in the face of the looming

water crisis and climate change, a reliable telemetry system was crucial for the Indus basin irrigation system, especially for addressing inter-provincial water sharing issues.

He said the National Water Policy 2018 underscored the need for such a system, and the USAID had responded to it with the Indus Telemetry System as a transparent and efficient water accounting solution.

Irrigation secretary Mohammad Tahir Orakzai presented the “roadmap for strategic reforms” in the province, highlighting future initiatives aimed at further improving water management practices.

Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources director general Dr Hifza Rasheed underscored the critical role of innovative technologies in addressing the country’s water challenges.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2024