Cholistan Canal proposed to draw additional outflows at Sulemanki

ISLAMABAD: The Cholistan Canal has been proposed to draw additional flows at Sulemanki Headworks across the Sutlej River to command an area of 400,000 acres in Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur districts.

The project involves enhancing the dischargecapacity of Rasul-Qadirabad, Qadirabad-Baloki and Baloki- Sulemanki links. On a request by the Punjab government, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) issued a water availability certificate on January 25, 2024.

However, the Sindh government submitted a summary to the CCI on 15-11-2024 with a request to nullify the water availability certificate issued by Irsa on January 25.

The project groundbreaking was carried out by the Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Army Chief General Asim Munir on 15-2-2025.

The Ecnec, in its meeting held on February 7 considered the summary and approved the proposal/submission at para-16 of the summary subject to approval by the CCI.

Meanwhile, Government of Sindh has submitted a summary in the Council of Common Interest regarding this project in Dec 2021. However, the CCI asked the Sindh government to resubmit a fresh summary in the matter for CCI after its reconstitution in September 2023. Since then, the summary has not been submitted again. Keeping above in view, the Ecnec may consider approving the Greater Thal Canal (Phase II) subject to decision of CCI on water dispute. CCI Secretariat may be requested to expedite the resolution of dispute after its receipt, from the Government of Sindh (GoS) so that project reaches a conclusion.”