Peshawar   -   Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Finance Taimur Jhagra on Tuesday said that Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) will change the fate of southern districts. The project will be completed in five years.

Addressing a news conference, Jhagra flanked by Arshid Ayub, Kamran Bangash and SACM for Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, said that Chashma Right Bank Canal project, pending since 1992, was approved by the Central Development Working Party due to the efforts of KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

He congratulated the people of the province on the approval of the project and appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in taking special interest in the project. The project will change the fate of the southern districts. The project will be funded by the province and the federation in the ratio of 35 to 65. The project will be completed in five years at a cost of Rs244 billion.

The minister said that the provincial government in general and the leadership of the southern districts in particular played their part in approving the project. The feasibility report of the project was prepared in a short span of two months, and the plan will be presented for approval in ECNEC.  Stakeholders should support this project in the best public interest.

On the occasion, KP Minister for Irrigation Arshad Ayub while giving details of the project said that the construction of Chashma Right Bank Canal project will cost Rs244 billion while the project will be completed in five years.  The project will irrigate 300,000 acres of land in the southern districts and flow of water from CRBC will be 2,613 cusecs.

He congratulated the people of the province on the approval of the project and appreciated the efforts of the Chief Minister in taking special interest in the project. The project was launched in 1992 with the cooperation of Japan.

The project will be jointly constructed by the federal and provincial governments.  He said at present 33 per cent of water of the province is being wasted which will come to 10 per cent after completion of the project. The project will be jointly developed by the federal and provincial governments.