Government focusing on small dams to protect land from barrenness: Buzdar

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said on Tuesday that the government is focusing on construction of small dams which will protect thousands of acres of land from getting barren.

"With the construction of dams and water reservoirs, the underground water level will rise besides fulfilling the needs of potable water," the CM said while holding a meeting on construction of small water reservoirs. The secretary irrigation gave a detailed briefing to the chief minister about the small dams.

The CM was informed about the project of constructions of protective spurs and ponds in various cities of the province.

While addressing the meeting, the CM said that seven small dams in Dera Ghazi Khan and six in Rajanpur will be constructed for storage of water in hill torrents areas. Protective spurs will be constructed with the cost of over Rs. 600 million.

It was informed in the meeting that four ponds will also be constructed for the provision of potable water and for irrigation purposes in Dera Ghazi Khan. Protective spurs will be constructed at the bank of river Sindh at Gaajni in order to provide clean drinking water to Rawalpindi. Dhodcha dam will be constructed at a cost of Rs 6 billion.

It was further informed that Chahan dam will be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.56 billion. Construction of Mohata dam will irrigate 4500 acres of land. Whereas Papan dam completed at a cost of Rs 53 million will irrigate 15000 acres of land. Similarly, Mohrah Shera dam constructed at a cost of Rs 680 million will irrigate 4000 acres land in Chakwal. Pandori dam in Jhelum constructed at a cost of Rs 950 million will irrigate 1500 acres of land.

Further, Surah dam will be completed at the cost of Rs 910 million. Taja Bara dam in Attock will be completed with a sum of Rs 200 million which will irrigate 300 acres of land. Sidrayal dam will be completed at a cost of Rs 100 million and irrigate 825 acres of land. Taman dam in Talagang will be completed at a cost Rs 1.5 billion. Ghibbar dam will be completed at the sum of 5.65 billion rupees. Completion of Project of Dharabi dam in Chakwal will irrigate 6400 acres of land. This project will be completed with the sum of Rs 340 million, the meeting was informed.