Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Irrigation department has started construction of seven small dams in the tribal districts, according to media reports published on Thursday (February 24). The department has started work on 59 projects, worth PKR 44 billion.
Irrigation Minister Arshad Ayub Khan stated that the chief engineer has been established along with the offices of the executive engineer in every tribal district.
Moreover, the purpose of the district offices was to provide better services to the people on their doorstep. The minister added that a significant portion of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award funds has been allotted for the development and construction of integrated districts. Once completed, the development projects will bring prosperity to the region.
Reportedly, as many as 35 schemes worth PKR 9 billion were launched under Annual Development Programme (ADP) while 24 projects worth PKR 35 billion were launched under the Accelerated Implementation Programme.
Sharing details about the dams, the Jabba Dam, worth PKR 19 billion will provide clean drinking water to one million population of Khyber and Peshawar districts. He went on to say that having a storage capacity of 37,982 acre-feet, the dam will protect the valley from floods.
Another dam being constructed is the Bara Dam, which has a capacity of 85,000 acre-feet and will generate six megawatts of electricity and irrigate 41,729 acres of land. Also, the Warsak Lift Bank Canal Improvement and Construction Project was started, which will irrigate 10,000-acre land in Mohmand district and 44,772-acre land in Khyber.
Similarly, work on 200 Chuck dams has started for irrigation purposes of integrated districts. The irrigation department has also started work on the improvement of 420 irrigation channels that will irrigate 25,000-acre of land.
Hazafa reveres the art of writing and has been turned into a property enthusiast by profession. Her daily survival kit includes; tea, coffee, keyboard and paperbacks.
