ISLAMABAD: After a lapse of three months, construction work on the much-awaited Jalalpur Irrigation Project (JIP) has finally commenced, Pakistan Today has learnt.
According to sources, construction work on the 115.7km JIP has started almost three months after its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Sources said that out of total 380 RDs (reduced distances), only five RDs (1RD = 1,000 feet) have so far been given to the contractor while up to 33 RDs would be handed over by the end of March whereas the remaining RDs would be given in May this year.
They claimed that construction work of JIP has commenced as per official timelines and that the project was scheduled to be completed by 2024 with an estimated cost of Rs32 billion.
The total required area for JIP construction has not been acquired as yet, but the process was underway and would be completed soon, sources added.
They said the land acquisition process [for JIP] had earlier witnessed a delay due to slow payments to affectee landowners by the concerned district administrations.
It is pertinent to mention that the total cost of the project was approximately Rs32 billion, of which the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide 88pc while remaining 12pc would be paid by the Punjab government. Punjab irrigation and agriculture departments were the implementing agencies for this project.
On February 7, 2018, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) had approved the construction of JIP at a cost of Rs32,721.46 million. The repayment period of loan was set at 15 years with an interest rate of LIBOR+0.60pc.
According to ADB, JIP was located along the right bank of River Jhelum in Punjab. “The project will create new non-perennial irrigation services for enhanced agricultural production on 79,750ha in Pind Daden Khan and Khushab districts. The project will increase Kharif crop intensity by 50pc, improve crop yield and reduce land degradation. It will directly benefit over 200,000 rural people; mostly poor.
“The project will (i) construct over 200km new irrigation canals, (ii) introduce institutional reforms and establish farmers’ organizations (FOs), and (iii) build farmers capacity. It will contribute to food security and economic growth and will alleviate rural poverty in the project area.”
Earlier, the prime minister was expected to lay the foundation stone for Jalalpur Canal on December 13, 2019. However, the PM refused to do so until “issues pertaining to land acquisition were resolved amicably”. However, on December 26, 2019, PM Imran Khan had laid the foundation stone for the said canal.
