LAHORE, Dec 29: The Punjab Irrigation Department has initiated its routine annual canal closure programme amid reduced inflows in the Indus and Jhelum rivers due to limited snowmelt and low rainfall in catchment areas. This essential maintenance exercise focuses on desilting, repairs, and rehabilitation to enhance the efficiency of the province’s vast irrigation network.
Twelve canals under the Mangla Command have been closed starting December 26, with water supply suspended for two weeks on a rotational basis. Desilting operations commence once the canals are fully emptied, allowing engineers to inspect and repair embankments, structures, and other infrastructure components.
No Major Impact on Rabi Crops Assured The closures form part of a two-phase plan, with the remaining nine canals of the Tarbela Command scheduled to shut down within the next two weeks for a similar two-week period. The entire programme is expected to conclude by January 31, ensuring canals are ready for increased demand in February.
Irrigation experts highlight that Punjab’s extensive canal system spans over 36,000 kilometres, with nearly 18,000 kilometres of main canals closed annually for desilting. Officials, including Chief Engineer Engr Rashid Minhas and Director Punjab Irrigation Research Institute Dr Ghulam Zakir Hassan Sial, emphasize that the shutdown provides a critical window to identify damages and carry out necessary improvements.
Agriculture consultants, such as Dr Anjum Ali, reassure farmers that the timing poses no significant threat to Rabi crops like wheat, as irrigation needs remain low in January. Farmers can rely on tubewell water during this period, with canal supplies resuming fully in February to support peak requirements.