Rain-fed Pindi areas to get new dams

ISLAMABAD:

The Punjab government is constructing 14 new small dams in the Rawalpindi division under a long-term strategy to harvest rain and floodwater during the monsoon season and improve water availability for agriculture, officials said.

Punjab Irrigation Department Chief Engineer of Potohar Region, Muhammad Nawaz Bhatti, said the projects form part of a 10-year plan aimed at addressing water scarcity in rain-fed areas. He noted that construction work on all 14 dams is underway at various stages and progressing in accordance with approved timelines.

Bhatti expressed confidence that the new infrastructure would help bring additional barren land under cultivation, thereby boosting agricultural output and strengthening food security. Among the dams currently under construction are Papin, Khori, Sora, Ahmad Dal and Khor, along with several others.

Data from the Punjab Irrigation Department show that 57 small dams have already been completed in the Potohar region, covering the districts of Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Attock and Jhelum. These dams presently provide irrigation water to around 66,804 acres of barani (rain-fed) land. Once the ongoing projects are completed, irrigation coverage is expected to expand to nearly 69,800 acres.

Beyond the Rawalpindi division, the Punjab government is also planning the construction of small dams in the DG Khan division to harness water from hill torrents originating in the Sulaiman Range. These torrents frequently cause extensive damage to crops and human settlements. Officials noted, however, that dams in this region require specialised designs capable of withstanding powerful flash floods.

Separately, the provincial government has launched a programme to construct micro and mini dams in northern Punjab under the supervision of the Agency for Barani Areas Development (ABAD) and the Farm Management Directorate of the Punjab Agriculture Department.

Director Farm Water Management Aamir Mushtaq said the government plans to construct hundreds of mini dams in the Potohar region in phases to support agriculture and enhance water availability.