Nespak, irrigation dept to build small dams

The National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) and the provincial irrigation department have signed an agreement for setting up small and intermediate dams in Punjab.

An MoU signing ceremony was held in this regard in Sakhi Sarwar.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar was the chief guest of the ceremony. NESPAK Water and Agriculture Division chief Tajamal Shah and Punjab Barrages Project Director Ijaz Kashif signed the MoU.

Under the agreement, a feasibility study will be conducted for the construction of intermediate and small dams on 13 hill torrents. State-of-the-art drone survey technique will be used in this regard.

Construction of the dams is likely to enhance the capacity to store maximum water after Mangla and Tarbela.

Chief Minister Buzdar said while addressing the function, “The pilot project for the construction of the first dam will be started in June this year. The construction of small and intermediate dams will irrigate more than 200,000 acres of land. Water of 13 streams of DG Khan and Rajanpur will be stored besides minimising the flood risks and losses.”

Initially, reservoirs will be built at Hathimore, Jalebimore, Khar Monro and Thalang.

Modern design will automatically reduce slit in the reservoirs. Minister of Sate Zartaj Gul, Punjab Minister for Irrigation Sardar Mohsin Khan Leghari, Health Adviser Hanif Patafi, Chairman Punjab Land Record Authority Sardar Ahmad Ali Dareshak, former district Nazim Sardar Abdul Qadir Khan Khosa and senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2021.