Kachhi Canal Project

{{Short description|Canal in Punjab and Baluchistan}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{More citations needed|date=August 2017}}

{{update|date=March 2019}}

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{{Infobox project

| name = Kachhi Canal Project

| image =

| location = Pakistan: Baluchistan, Punjab,

| key_people =

| established = {{Start date|2002}}

| budget = PKR 80 billion

| current_status = Completed and Operational (Phase-I only)

| website = {{URL|http://www.wapda.gov.pk}}

|country=Pakistan}}

The Kachhi Canal Project is a 499-km long canal project situated in the Baluchistan and Punjab Provinces of Pakistan. It starts from Taunsa Barrage at Indus River and terminates in Baluchistan. The canal provides sustainable irrigation water supply to 720,000 acres of agricultural land in Baluchistan and 30,000 acres of land in Punjab. The cost of the project, after its revision is now Rs.80.5 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1319686/cdwp-approves-258-increase-cost-kachhi-canal-project|title = CDWP approves 258% increase in cost of Kachhi Canal project|date = 7 February 2017}} The water infrastructure and irrigated agriculture in Baluchistan will sizably increase, when Kachhi Canal Project will be completed. The project was started in 2002 and was almost abandoned due to cost and time overruns.{{Cite web|url=http://www.issi.org.pk/issue-brief-on-kachhi-canal-project/|title = Issue Brief on "Kachhi Canal Project" | Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad}}

The length of main canal is 399 km, of which 305 km lies in Punjab region whilst 94 km are in Baluchistan. The Kachhi Canal project is divided into three phases.{{Cite web | url=http://www.wapda.gov.pk/index.php/newsmedia/news-views/529-wapda-starts-process-to-construct-remaining-works-of-kachhi-canal-phase-i-also-initiates-process-to-carry-out-phase-ii-phase-iii-feasibility-studies | title=WAPDA starts process to Construct remaining works of Kachhi Canal Phase-I : Also initiates process to carry out Phase-II, Phase-III feasibility studies }}

Phase 1 comprises six sections totaling 399 km: (305 km Punjab, 94 Baluchistan):

1. KC-1 -- 6 KM—Completed.
2. KC-2 -- 20 KM—Completed.
3. KC-3 -- 6 KM—Completed.
4. KC-4 -- 129 KM—Completed.
5. KC-5 -- 144 KM—Completed.
6. KC-6A—49 KM—In Progress.
7. KC-6B—45 KM—In Progress.

Phase 2 comprises one section of 60 km in Baluchistan:

1. KC-7 -- 60 KM—Not Started.

Phase 3 comprises one section of 40 km in Baluchistan:

1. KC-8 -- 40 KM—Not Started.

Total System Length after completion of all phased will be 499 KM [399KM + 60KM+ 40 KM], Baluchistan would get 194 KM, and Punjab will get 304 KM of Canal.

The 399 kilometer long main canal (out of which 351 kilometers is lined) takes off from Taunsa Barrage in Muzaffar Garh district of Punjab province and ends at Dera Bugti district in Baluchistan province. The discharge capacity of the main canal is 6000 cusecs. As many as 914 structures have been constructed at or over the main canal including head and cross regulators, road and railways bridges, cross drainage and escape structures and watercourse crossings etc.{{Cite web | url=http://www.wapda.gov.pk/index.php/newsmedia/news-views/240-construction-of-kachhi-canal-project | title=Construction of Kachhi Canal Project to be completed by 3rd week of August Canal to be commissioned by end August; WAPDA }}