Impacts Evaluation of Chashma Right Bank Canal on the Water-Table of District Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Pages 289-292
Atta-ur-Rahman, Amir Nawaz Khan, Samiullah, Shehla Gul and Shakeel Mahmood
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2016.12.43
Published: 19 July 2016

Abstract: This paper analyses the impact evaluation of Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) on the water-table of district D.I. Khan, Pakistan. The study area falls in the arid agro-ecological zone of Pakistan. In order to achieve objectives of the study, data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were obtained through a detailed field survey, where five sample villages were also selected by random means for micro-level analysis. Out of which four from CRBC command areas and one village from outside the command area. Data were also collected during focused group discussion with the farmers and elderly people to grasp the ex post impact of CRBC on water-table. In addition to this, pre-CRBC data were obtained from WAPDA. The analysis reveals that in the study area water-table varies from area to area. A large tract of saline groundwater is available in the western section, whereas the eastern section has good quality of freshwater aquifers. After the construction of CRBC, there has been a gradual rise in water-table due to intensive irrigation, introduction of water loving crops, high cropping intensity and unlined irrigation network. The analysis further reveals that in certain areas, the rise in water-table is very alarming. Such threatening situation may encourage waterlogging, soil salinization that may halt agricultural productivity.