PML-N government would construct as many as six small dams at an estimated cost of Rs 6.7 billion in district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is learnt. According to the sources, PML-N has a strong vote-bank in Hazara region including districts Mansehra and Haripur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PML-N wants to boost the agriculture in these districts by constructing six small dams as most of the people are linked with farming.
Sources said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also asked the federal government to pay attention to other areas of the province for construction of small dams. According to documents available with Business Recorder, the project of small dams would be completed in 36 months (2015-2018). The small dams which would be constructed are: Lchar Nullah Dam at an estimate cost of Rs 1.1 billion, Manchura Dam, Rs 1.2 billion, Shah Tooth Dam, Rs 1.1 billion, Shungli Bandi Dam, Rs 1 billion, Chitta Batta Dam, Rs 1 billion and Shina Dam at an estimate cost of Rs 1.24 billion. It was further revealed that 60 percent physical phasing of the dams would be completed in 2015-16, 20 percent in 2016-17 and 20 percent in 2017-18.
The federal government would provide 100 percent funds for the construction of dams. For this purpose, the federal government has budgeted Rs 700 million in financial year 2015-16. The documents further revealed that Hazara region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a tremendous potential for agricultural activities in general and horticulture in particular. Insufficient availability of water for agriculture is a major constraint in the increase of agricultural productivity. The construction of six small dams in Mansehra district will provide gross storage of the storm up to 9,586 acre feet of water. Out of this, 3,188 acre feet will be the live storage. These dams will provide assured irrigation supplies to 18,500 acres of land.
The objectives of the dams are to provide storage capacity of 3188 acre feet of water, assured irrigation supply for 18,500 acres of land, uplift the livelihood of inhabitant by providing employment and business opportunities and to mitigate the impacts of floods. According to the documents, a canal of 37km length would also be dogged from dams. The dams would provide 53 cusecs discharge for irrigation while cropping intensity of 175 percent in the project area. As per Environmental Protection Act 1997, for any project costing Rs 300 million or more, environmental impact assessment may be carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down. The project of construction of six small dams has been placed before the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for consideration.
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