CM orders release of funds for small dam projects

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday directed the Finance Department to release funds for the timely completion of small dam projects being executed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

An official handout said he issued the directives while chairing a meeting of the Irrigation Department at the Chief Minister’s House here.The meeting reviewed the progress of the small dam projects. The participants were briefed on the proposed projects, issues and impediments hindering the progress of certain projects and future course of action.

Provincial Minister for Irrigation Aqibullah Khan, Secretary Irrigation Tahir Orakzai and other officials attended it.The meeting was informed that a total of 56 small dams had been completed in the province having a total storage capacity of 281,410 acre-feet and a cultivable command area of 312263 acres.

It was informed that work on 30 small dam projects was in progress and these would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs43.6 billion.As many as 14 small dam projects including Khattak Banda Dam Kohat, Makh Banda Dam Karak, Latambar Dam Karak, Jaroba Dam Nowshera, Pezu Dam Lakki Marwat and others were about complete this year. The projects would cultivate an area of 34000 acres upon completion, the authorities told the meeting.

The chief minister directed the officials to ensure timely completion of the projects. He directed them that the projects, which were near completion, should be operationalized without delay.

He directed them to come up with a strategy to ensure the projects were completed within the stipulated timelines. He said that small dam projects were of vital importance for the agriculture development and food security of the province.He gave the go-ahead to carry out feasibility studies for new small dam projects at suitable sites in the province. He underlined the need for strengthening the Small Dams Directorate.