When we look at the Earth from space, we see a blue planet, with 71% of its surface covered by water. However, unfortunately, there is not enough water for human consumption or agriculture in all parts of the Earth. Do you find it difficult to live in the desert? The scorching sun, sparse plants, sandstorms. It can be said that the desert is not an easy place to live. Fortunately, humanity is trying to change this situation as much as possible, seeking to bring water to the driest regions of the world. To achieve this, sometimes considerable efforts, substantial investments and bold engineering ideas are required. Today, we are going to present one such great project! Kachhi Canal Project In the northern Balochistan province of Pakistan, water shortage is acute. This is due to the low population density in the region and the delay in economic development. For example, the Dera Bugti district is considered the most underdeveloped region of Pakistan, despite the discovery of large reserves of natural gas in its layers. In the arid lands of this region, it is not possible to grow large crops and in most places it is impossible to grow anything. Without water, development is impossible. In 2002, the Pakistani authorities decided to change this situation and began a grandiose construction project. The maximum flow of the Kachhi Canal is 6,000 cubic feet per second, which translates to 600,000 cubic meters in an hour. In just 60 minutes, enough water passes through this canal to fill 272 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Of course, the dream of the local people is not to have swimming pools, but to be able to secure water without relying on rare rains. It seemed that in a few years, northern Balochistan would be covered in green fields and one would hear the murmur of clean streams. According to the initial plan, this was to have been achieved by 2008, quite a long time ago. However, the construction was stopped soon after. Features of the Canal Where can the people who are suffering get water? The mighty Indus River flows only 150 kilometers away, so this is not a problem at all. The Kachhi Canal begins at the most important dam on the Indus River, the Taunsa Dam. Until recently, this dam controlled three operational canals, but with the construction of the Kachhi Canal on the right bank of the Indus River, it became the fourth canal in this hydraulic network. The first section was opened in 2017, but construction of other sections is still ongoing. The construction is being carried out by Wapda (Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority), which specializes in the construction of hydraulic facilities such as dams and canals. The Kachhi Canal Project is planned to be implemented in three phases. In the first phase, a main canal will be built that is 399 kilometers long. The main part of this canal is 305 kilometers long and is located in Punjab, providing water to local farmers. That in itself is incredible, isn't it? In addition, another 94-kilometer stretch runs through Balochistan and continues to the Dera Bugti district. However, the main canal alone is not enough to transform the desert into a blooming garden. Construction The canal’s course was chosen to allow water to flow naturally, following the Earth’s gravity, towards the cities of Balochistan and nearby Sui. In this design, there is no need for pumping stations, nor is there a need for laying large amounts of pipelines. Even so, building a 50-kilometer irrigation canal presents significant technical challenges, especially considering that this is a desert region with no infrastructure such as roads. Working under the scorching sun in the driver’s seat of a bulldozer gives an idea of ​​how hard it is for the construction workers. The first stage involves earthmoving, where excavators remove the topsoil and dig the bed of the canal that will be built. The soil is then loaded onto dump trucks and transported away from the canal construction site. In other words, while constructing the canal, it is necessary to create temporary roads to ensure easy passage of heavy equipment. Some of these temporary roads will become permanent and will be used for canal management, crop transportation and other purposes. Thus, the Kachhi Canal is not only a means of supplying water but also an important infrastructure development project for the region. The canal bed is trapezoidal in shape and its slope is quite gentle, which is related to the characteristics of the soil in this area. In terrains where there are exposed rocks, it is possible to build canals with rectangular cross-sections, however, due to the risk of landslides in this region, it is preferable to slope the side walls.