Farmers in Sahiwal and Chichawatni are facing a severe water shortage due to the ongoing closure of the 9/L canal. It has been blocked for over five weeks following delays in sewage line repair work, local officials and residents said.
According to the irrigation department, the canal was closed at the request of the Punjab Intermediate Cities Improvement and Investment Programme (PICIIP) to address a leak in a newly-laid sewage line beneath the canal. The leakage, first reported on December 13, reportedly occurred due to substandard construction and created a breach that threatened nearby colonies.
PICIIP District Manager Asjad Khan stated that the repair work had been largely completed and that the irrigation department was now responsible for the remaining work. However, Irrigation Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) XEN Muhammad Talha contradicted this, saying the repairs were still incomplete and water continued to leak through the sewer line. He added that PICIIP engineers would require an additional 15 days to finish the project.
“It was closed to fix a leakage in the newly-laid sewage line, but reopening is not possible until the work is fully completed,” Talha said.
Kisan Tehreek Pakistan Central President Zahid Farooq expressed concern over the ongoing risk to residents of Manzoor Colony, Muhammad Pura, and Agha Bashir Town, as well as the surrounding farmland along the 9/L canal. He criticized the PICIIP for poor-quality construction and delays in completing the work.
Commissioner Dr. Asif Tufail visited the site last week after repeated complaints from farmers. He directed contractors and senior PICIIP officials to expedite repairs and adhere to quality standards, giving them a five-day deadline. Despite this, the project remains unfinished.
The 9/L canal irrigates around 160,000 acres of land, primarily in Sahiwal and Chichawatni tehsils. Its prolonged closure has hit the farming community hard, especially wheat and potato growers who rely heavily on its water. Farmers in areas such as Iqbal Nagar, Harappa, and Chichawatni have reported increasing distress as water shortages continue.
Zahid Farooq warned that if the PICIIP fails to complete the repair work before December 26, local farmers will face even greater hardships, coinciding with the scheduled start of warabandi (rotational water distribution) on the LBDC canal.
PICIIP is currently implementing a civic improvement project in Sahiwal city, valued at Rs18 billion and supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Despite this investment, residents continue to report poor workmanship and delays, particularly in sewage-related works. The project includes laying a 91km-long trunk sewer line across the city.