TIMERGARA, July 14: The Balambat water channel would irrigate 11,000 acres of land to bring a green revolution in the district, Executive Engineer Shafiq Khan told local journalists on Thursday.

He said that the scheme would be completed till December this year. Chief Minister Ameer Haidar Khan Hoti and Irrigation Minister Pervez Khattak would inaugurate the channel, he added.

He said that the channel would irrigate 11,000 acres of agricultural land in the district to increase yields of fruits, vegetables and grains. “It will also solve the problem of unemployment in the area as majority of the people will start farming,” he said.

Mr Khan said that the 70-kilometre long water channel would irrigate lands in Khall, Shal Pakam, Odigram, Munjai, Balambat, Hajiabad, Koto, Shehzadi, Khazana, Makhai, Malala, Kotkay and Munda.

The 11-kilometre long portion of the channel was tested and found useful, he added. The official said that contractors had been asked to complete the project within its stipulated time. He said there would be no compromise on the standard of work.

Sub-Divisional Officer Akhunzada Tahir Syed, Engineer Akhunzada Naseerullah, farmers and elders of the area were also present on the occasion of channel testing at Khall.

The officials of irrigation department diverted the water of the Panjkora River to flow in the specific portion of the channel. Farmers of the Khall Bala, Khall Payeen, Adai, Shal Palam and Sacha Meera irrigated their land with the water and expressed satisfaction over the scheme.

Majority of the people in these villages came out of their homes to watch the water flowing in the channel for the first time since its construction.

The irrigation channel was approved during the previous MMA government, however, it was not completed. The chief minister had directed irrigation department to immediately resume work on the scheme.

On Thursday the authorities opened an 11-kilometre portion of channel on experimental basis and advised farmers of the area to utilise its water for irrigation purpose.

WATER SUPPLY: Dozens of non-functional water supply schemes in the district had been made functional after the installation of Talash feeder from Chakdara grid and Timergara II feeder from Shekolai grid, said Engineer Imtiaz Khan here on Thursday.

“The voltage has been improved and several schemes have been made functional during the last two weeks,” he said. He said that operational staff of tubewells had been main hurdles in running smoothly those schemes.

He threatened to take strict actions against the operators if they were found absent from their duties. “It is our responsibility to provide drinking water to our consumers and I will visit all these schemes and check presence of staff,” he said.