Water conservation: Construction of delay check dams okayed

PESHAWAR: Construction work on the Aqrab Dagh Delay Action Dam (DAD) was started on Friday. The dam, being constructed at a cost of Rs81.572 million, was launched in Mohmand Agency by the Fata Rural Development Project (FRDP).

FRDP Spokesperson Haroon Shinwari addressed the project assessment and evaluation conference at the Fata Secretariat. He said that surveys and preparation of feasibility studies for the 12 DADs were carried out in different areas of Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur Agencies, and the implemnentation phase had now been rolled out.

“A lot of effort has been made in order to accumulate adequate financial, human and technical resources for the construction of these mega water reservoirs which we aim to complete by December 2011,” he said.

A delay action dam collects surplus rain water, which can later be used to recharge the sub-surface water when needed. DADs are ideal for rugged terrains.

So far, eight sites have been selected in Khyber and Mohmand Agencies (four each) for the dams, according to Shinwari. These are Khunarai Dam at Mullagori, Sapari Dam at Jamrud, Bar Killay Dam at Kam Shalman and Farsh Dam at Loe Shalman in Khyber Agency and Aqrab Dam at Ekkaghund, Khurshid Dam at Prang Ghar, Michni Dam at Mohmand Lower and Yousafkhel Dam at Halimzai in Mohmand Agency.

The spokesperson added that four small dam sites have also been identified in Bajaur Agency, however, due to certain technical issues a final decision has yet to be made.

“In order to endorse ownership and ensure transparency, local tribesmen who are the real beneficiaries from this scheme will monitor and facilitate execution of construction activities along with the project implementation unit,” Shinwari said.

In a region where a majority of the population depends on water resources for scraping a living through agriculture and livestock, priorities were set by the government to launch Fata Small Dams Initiative, the spokesperson said.

This initiative with help maintain rainwater reservoirs, raise water levels, save agricultural lands from erosion and protect villages from floods in the three upper Fata tribal agencies.

These small dams, once constructed, would ensure storage capacity of 417 million cubic metres in Khyber Agency, 128 million cubic metres in Bajaur Agency and 111.50 million cubic metres in Mohmand Agency, Shinwari added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2010.