PESHAWAR: A damaged pipeline of the Baizai Irrigation Canal in the Pipal area of Katlang ztehsil has disrupted water supply to thousands of acres of agricultural land for more than two weeks, leaving farmers fearful of heavy losses to standing sugarcane and maize crops and demanding immediate intervention by the authorities.
The disruption has affected Babuzai, Shamozai and several other localities dependent on the canal system, with growers warning that the continued suspension of water supply could devastate crops at a crucial stage of the farming season.
“We are watching our crops dry up before our eyes,” said Saeed Khan, a former union council nazim. “Farmers have repeatedly approached the Irrigation Department and other relevant authorities, but despite assurances, no practical measures have been taken to restore the water supply.”
According to local farmers, the damaged pipeline has halted irrigation at a time when sugarcane fields require regular watering, while maize growers are approaching the harvesting season.
“The pipeline has remained damaged for over two weeks and nobody has come to repair it,” said farmer Imtiaz Khan. “Our crops have started suffering and the losses are increasing every day. Agriculture is the backbone of our livelihood, yet our concerns are being ignored.”
Another farmer, Sajjad Khan, said the water shortage had compounded existing problems within the canal system.“The canal is not only suffering from a damaged pipeline, but many sections are also clogged with garbage and silt, reducing water flow,” he said. “Even when water is available, farmers at various points receive insufficient supplies because of poor maintenance.”
The Baizai Irrigation Channel Project, completed at a cost of Rs3.5 billion, was designed to irrigate approximately 25,000 acres of land in Mardan and Malakand districts. The project comprises a 39-kilometre-long main canal originating from Wartair Dobandi in Malakand and extending to Matta village in Tehsil Katlang. Water was formally released into the canal system following the project’s completion in May 2015.
Local residents said the canal project, once hailed as a major initiative for boosting agricultural productivity in the region, has yet to deliver its full potential due to unresolved issues, including the delayed implementation of revenue chakbandi and the alleged illegal extraction of canal water through pumping generators.
Farmers at the tail end of the canal claimed they were among the worst affected, alleging that unauthorized water lifting and poor management often deprived them of their share of irrigation water.
They said billions of rupees had been invested in the project to improve agricultural output and strengthen the rural economy, but recurring operational and maintenance issues were undermining its intended benefits.
The affected farmers urged Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the Irrigation Department and district authorities to immediately repair the damaged pipeline, remove obstructions from the canal and address longstanding shortcomings in the irrigation network.
“If the authorities fail to act swiftly, thousands of farmers may suffer severe financial losses and a significant portion of this season’s crops could be lost,” they warned.When contacted, Irrigation Minister Riaz Khan said the matter had been noted and would be reviewed on an urgent basis, adding that necessary steps would be taken to resolve the issue at the earliest.
Abid Khan Wazir, Secretary Irrigation, told The News that restoration work at Syphon-5, where the damage occurred, was already underway and expected to be completed within two days.
He said all 164 chakbandis in the command area had been completed and duly sanctioned, adding that the department was committed to ensuring timely restoration of the irrigation system and resolving the issue on a priority basis.
