NWFP government plans to construct seven small dams

The provincial government of NWFP with assistance of federal government has planned the construction of seven small dams. The federal government has already allocated a sum of Rs 1.80 billion for the projects and in this connection the feasibility of the Tank Zam Dam had already been completed.
Briefing the newsmen here on Saturday, the NWFP Minister for Irrigation Hafiz Akhtar Ali said that four small dams would be constructed with the assistance of federal government while three small dams would be constructed under Dera-II programme. Furthermore, he informed that the feasibility study of 20 small dams has also been completed. The construction of these small dams would help irrigate a vast agricultural land of 79,250 acres in the province.
He said that under annual development programme (ADP) 2005-06 of NWFP a sum of Rs 687 millions have been allocated for completion of 52 ongoing and 16 new projects.
The provincial minister said that the lining of irrigation channel in province would cost Rs 2,535.30 million. However, he said an amount of Rs 750 million would be allocated in the next financial year for completion of the lining of 335 kilometres long irrigation channels in the province. The completion of the scheme, he said would help to save 0.2 million acre-feet water every year.
In response to a question about hydro-power generation projects, Hafiz Akhtar Ali disclosed that Sarhad Hydropower Development Organisation (SHYDO) has completed feasibility studies of 10 hydro projects having the capacity of generating 550 MW power while 163 MW Alai Khwar hydro project, 130 MW Dobeer Khwar hydro project Kohistan and Khan Khwar hydro projects of district Shangla have been handed over to Wapda for starting work on them.
The minister said 81 MW Malakand-III Hydropower project is near completion while small power projects like Sheshee and Rishon powerhouse Chitral of 1.875 MW and 1.4 MW electricity would also be completed shortly. He added that Pehur power project in district Swabi would produce 18 MW electricity.