Punjab Irrigation Minister Amanat Ullah Khan Shadikhel has said that working on capacity enhancement of Palkhu Nullah as part of Flood Protection of Sialkot in Aik and Palkhu Nullahs is in progress and project is set to be completed by June next year. This project will raise Palkhu's capacity from 1000 cusecs to 3000 cusecs and will considerably minimize the risks of floods in the area in monsoon.
Amanat Ullah Khan Shadikhel told this while presiding over a departmental meeting held here today. He said that main problem area along the course of the drain is around the village Chitti Sheikhan where the capacity of the drain comes down to a mere 320 cusecs due to low lying bridges. In order to resolve this issue and save the village from future inundations, a 2500 feet long bypass channel is being built. He told that as much as 50 per cent of work has already been completed on the channel despite some delay has happened due to stay orders hampering the land acquisition. This capacity enhancement project also includes major repair works on the prism of the channel, de-silting and strengthening of the embankments. He said that once completed the project will solve the problem of repeated breaches resulting inundations in the area. The Minister stressed upon officials and officers of Irrigation Department to keep close watch on the flood situation in Palkhu Nullah keeping in view the forecasts of heavy rains.
