Page 156 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

Chapter 31

IRRIGATION

The early means of irrigation in Muzaffargarh were by wells and inundation
canal system origin of which can be traced back to 1853. A small portion in
north of Kot Addu is still irrigated by inundation canals starting off from
Dholewala near Kot Sultan. This inundation canal system irrigates around
48418 acres of the district. However, after commissioning of the Taunsa
Barrage in 1958, a well-organized canal system was introduced in
Muzaffargarh. The canal system fed by Taunsa Barrage initially consisted of
Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan canals irrigating roughly 2 million acres
of land. The Taunsa-Panjnad (TP) Link canal was added in 1970 as a
component of Indus Basin Project.
The Irrigation Department in the district consists of Superintending Engineer
Muzaffargarh Canal Circle under whom there are five divisions headed by
Executive Engineers namely Taunsa Barrage, Kot Addu Canal, Muzaffargarh
Canal, River Diversion, and Store & Workshop Divisions. Total staff strength
of the department in the district is 2865.
TAUNSA BARRAGE DIVISION

The Taunsa Barrage Division primarily looks after the affairs of Taunsa
Barrage and the related structures. The Taunsa Barrage Irrigation Project,
which was launched in 1953 and was completed in March, 1959, provides
irrigation facilities to Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffargarh districts. It was
formally inaugurated by Ayub Khan, the then president of Pakistan on March
3, 1959. The Barrage was built across River Indus, and is situated at a
distance of 17 km from the Kot Addu town. It derives its name from the
town of Taunsa Sharif, situated on the right bank of River Indus about 40
km upstream.
In April 2004, the World Bank approved a $123 million loan to rehabilitate
Taunsa Barrage. The main objective of the Taunsa Barrage Emergency
Rehabilitation and Modernization Project was to take urgent steps to prevent
failure of Taunsa Barrage, which is undoubtedly one of the most important
and vital structures for the sustenance of agriculture and the provision of
drinking water to the rural populace of the arid areas of South Punjab.
KOT ADDU CANAL DIVISION
Kot Addu Canal Division comprises 3 Sub-divisions namely Kot Addu,
Ahmedpur and Baseera. Muzaffargarh Canal RD 06785-206700 with its off-
takes falls within the jurisdiction of Kot Addu Canal Division. Inundation
canal system off-taking from Dholewala Regulator is also under the control
of this division.

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