‘Steps being taken to make all dams functional’

On the special instructions of the Punjab chief secretary, steps are being taken on a war-footing basis to activate all the dams across the division, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaqat Ali Chattha said on Saturday. Chattha formed a separate task force on all the dams in the division while initiating practical measures in this regard.

According to sources, the task force formed on each dam will include the Assistant Director of Agriculture, Assistant Director of Water Management, SDO Irrigation and four dignitaries from the area benefited by the dam under the supervision of the acting commissioner of the respective area. The Rawalpindi commissioner said he will start visiting all the dams in the coming weeks. He directed that the presence of the task force should be ensured on the occasion of the visit, which, after completing the homework, would inform the commissioner about the ground facts on the occasion. Chattha said that the government had spent billions of rupees on the dams built in the Rawalpindi division.

“Now, if these dams are not fully functional for the public due to minor problems or negligence of the department, then it is a matter of shame,” he said. He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting held in the Rawalpindi Commissioner's Office related to the Small Dams Project. Director Development Nazia Sadhan, Project Director Irrigation Tabraiz Elahi, Project Director Hamza Sheikh and other relevant officers participated in the meeting.

Chattha added that the construction of new dams and full functionalisation of existing dams was the urgent need of the hour. “Since Pakistan is an agricultural country, water is needed not only for drinking and general use but also for agriculture,” he said. “Unfortunately, Pakistan is one of the top countries that will face severe water shortage in the near future,” he added.

“Thousands of cusecs of water lost in rains every year can be stored by increasing the capacity of existing dams and constructing new dams. It can also reduce the risk of flooding.” On this occasion, during a detailed briefing on the existing dams in Chakwal district, it was told that there were 23 dams in Tala Gang and Chakwal, of which 19 dams were complete and functional while four were under construction.