Lahore Canal
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Lahore Canal (
The canal is managed by Lahore Zone of the Punjab Irrigation Department. The canal, aside from its importance for irrigation, forms the centre of a unique linear park that serves as one of the longest public green belts and popular recreational destination spots.[2] The average depth of the Canal is 5 feet (1.5 m) and it is bounded by roads on either side called the Canal Bank Road.[3] On local and national festivals, the canal is illuminated with lights and décor.
Construction
The Bambawali Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal at the east of the city of Lahore was already constructed in the
The idea to extend the canal may have possibly emerged because an irrigation system was felt necessary after a disastrous famine hit the Subcontinent in 1837-38 in which nearly ten million (one crore) rupees was spent on relief works, resulting in considerable loss of revenue to the
Route
It starts from
Culture and arts
The canal is an important part of Lahore's culture. During summers, its very sight is a relief to the residents of Lahore. In those hot, simmering days hundreds of people come to swim. They eat watermelons and generally have a good time in the canal. Young boys make the crowd but in the evenings one sees a good number of families sitting on the banks, the women with their feet in the water.[citation needed]
On local, national and religious festivals, such as
Problems
Unhealthy water
The canal water is said to be toxic and unhygienic. The samples of the canal water were examined at the Environment Department’s specialized laboratory in Lahore and showed “excessive limits of sulfide, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chlorine and sulphate; a disturbed pH balance and several other imbalances” because of the chemicals being thrown into the canal. The report found that all of the pollutants were in excess of the limit set by national environment quality standards. Regrettably, lower-class citizens swim in that water and some even drink from it, oblivious to the fact that this polluted water can cause diseases like hepatitis and various skin diseases.[4]
Desiltation
In early 2008, water was stopped from flowing into the canal to carry out de-
After the process has been completed and the canal bed looks beautifully uniform, the irrigation officials let the water flow again on February 10, 2008.[7]
The canal is de-silted annually by the Punjab Irrigation in the closure months of December and January.[8]
Criticism of government
Lahore Bachao Tehreek’s (Save Lahore Movement) case against the widening of the Lahore Canal was still pending before the
Developmental projects
Swimming areas
Plans have been brought to convert parts of the canal into a proper swimming area. Experts believe that the plan will have a positive impact on the lifestyle of the citizens who have been deprived of any such facility for a long time. Under the proposed plan, the government will stop the flow of water for a few weeks to properly clean the basin of the Canal and design it to avoid any accidents. Stairs would be built in the Canal at different points with boards set up on sides mentioning the Canal’s depth to prohibit children from swimming in some places. Moreover, proper lifeguards, lifejackets, medical teams, swimming accessories and other required facilities would also be made available at the swimming points. Proper food stalls and greenery in sitting places with proper maintenance will also be ensured to entertain visitors who do not know how to swim.
The government will provide facilities at par with international standards, keeping in mind the domestic cultural norms at the same time. The facility will be provided on selected points depending on the depth of the Canal.
The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) will be spearheading the plan while other departments including Tourism, Communication and Works and Irrigation will execute the proposed development work later. “We will develop a state-of-the-art facility for the public with a lot of trees, which will not only beautify the spots but improve the environmental condition of the historic city,” PHA Director General Dr Raheel Ahmad Siddiqui said.[9]
Recreational picnic spots
The former
References
- ^ "Lahore – A Canal Runs Through It « TheSouthAsianIdea Weblog". Thesouthasianidea.wordpress.com. 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ "Leading News Resource of Pakistan". Daily Times. 2010-07-26. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ "Lahore Bachao Tehreek: Water park idea at Lahore canal". Lahorebachao.blogspot.com. 2009-08-02. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ a b "Leading News Resource of Pakistan". Daily Times. 2009-12-05. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ Rumi, Raza (2008-04-15). "On Lahore's canal | Lahore Nama". Lahorenama.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ presents Lahore Canal in Bloom
- ^ "Lahore Canal Desilted". Lahore Metblogs. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ "DESILTING PLAN. ANNUAL CANAL CLOSURE 2019-20" (PDF). www.irrigation.punjab.gov.pk. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Part of Lahore Canal to be swimming, picnic area » Overseas Pakistani Friends". Opfblog.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-12. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
- ^ "Shahbaz for modern picnic spots along Lahore Canal | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online". Nation.com.pk. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
External links
- BAHAAO A documentary on Lahore Canal Part 1
- Lahore – A Canal Runs Through It
- The canal — a blessing or a risk not worth taking?
- Water park idea at Lahore canal by Husain Qazi Sunday 2 August 2009
- ‘Custodian’ guilty of ‘dumping’ Canal By Afnan Khan
- On Lahore’s canal
- Lahore Canal Desilted by Hasan Mubarak (February 10th, 2008)
- Part of Lahore Canal to be swimming, picnic area Archived 2016-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
- Shahbaz for modern picnic spots along Lahore Canal