Improving Water Management and Irrigation Systems in Punjab

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The project aims to improve irrigation services and reduce flood risk in selected areas of Punjab. The project scope mainly consists of four components: 1) integrated flood risk management and spate irrigation for selected hill torrents; 2) canal modernization and improved water management; 3) project management and evaluation; and 4) Contingent Emergency Response Component. These activities will contribute to enhancing Punjab's resilience against climate-related risks, such as floods and droughts, while also providing farmers with improved irrigation services that lead to improved water productivity. The first component will mainly finance infrastructures to divert and convey floodwaters and expand spate irrigation in selected hill torrents, thereby mitigating flood risks and damages to canals and command areas further downstream. Water harvesting and erosion control interventions will be piloted at small-scale in the upper watershed areas. All these interventions are part of the broader investment plan for integrated hill torrents management outlined in the feasibility studies conducted by the Government of Punjab and will directly contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation. The second component will support the modernization of selected canal subsystems and the improvement of water resources management in these subsystems including both surface and groundwater. The modernization works and the capacity strengthening activities for improved canal operations will result in more adequate and reliable canal water deliveries. Sustainable groundwater management will be promoted, alongside the development and implementation of conjunctive water management plans. The project's target areas includes DG Khan and Multan Districts of South Punjab and the Khushab District in North/Central Punjab as described below. Additional areas will be considered during the course of project implementation. 1) The flood risk management and spate irrigation interventions under Component 1 are focused initially on one priority hill torrent in DG Khan District, namely the Mithawan Hill Torrent. This hill torrent was selected because of its relatively smaller size, thus allowing for a rapid intervention, and high erosivity and peak flood flows resulting in heavy damages to the downstream areas during floods. Interventions on other hill torrents might be considered during the course of project implementation, as the broader hill torrent program unfolds. 2) The pilot canal modernization and enhanced water management supported under Component 2 will be implemented in three pilot canals namely the Hadali Distributary Canal, Sikandarabad Distributary Canal, and another distributary to be selected during the first year of implementation. The two selected distributaries are both located at the tail-end of their canal system and represent two different and equally challenging contexts found in Punjab: the Hadali Distributary is a perennial canal with groundwater of marginal quality due to its high salinity; the Sikandarabad Distributary is a non-perennial canal (operating only six month per year) with fresh groundwater facing over-abstraction. The third distributary will be selected in a different area of Punjab, so that the three pilots cover the various contexts found in the province.