The Small Dams Organisation (SDO) of NWFP selected 78 potential sites to construct small water reservoirs to combat drought conditions in water scarce areas of the province. Out of these 63 sites have already been identified in different districts of the province and work on preparation of their pre-feasibility reports is going on in full swing," said NWFP-SDO Managing Director (MD) Engineer Raqeeb Khan, while talking to Business Recorder here. "Preliminary survey of the sites of 15 small water reservoirs is continue on the demands of the people and construction work on the potential sites would start shortly," he added.
These dams, he said would be constructed through the funds sanctioned by the provincial and federal governments or grants of the friendly countries. He said the construction work on four such kind of small dams had already been completed in Azakhel Khawar (Peshawar), Gandyali (Kohat), Chanda Fateh Khan (Lachi-Kohat and Auxiliary Kander Dam in Kohat, within a short span of two years.
These dams, filled with water, were ready to irrigate 10,338 acres of land in the province. The SDO had requested the Chief Minister to formally inaugurate the completed dams after which proper water supply would be started.
Presently, Engr Raqeeb Khan said demand for water was very less due to recent rains in the province. However, he continued, as summer season starts, demand for water in water scarce areas would increase. Beside completion of work on four dams, construction of three other small dams was in full swing and would complete within a short time of two months, DG SDO added.
He said 80 per cent work on Naryab dam in Hangu district, Sharki dam in Karak district and Chalgoz dam in Karak district had been completed. These three dams, constructed under Drought Emergency Relief Assistance (Dera), after completion, would provide water for irrigation of more than 12,500 acres of land, he said.
The department, he said had also completed feasibility of six dams at different locations in the province and prepared pre-feasibility of 17 small dams, he added
About the background of SDO, Engr Raqeeb Khan said due to drought in recent past, the necessity for conservation of rain and floodwater was considered by the government as the only solution to combat water scarcity.
For providing water for irrigation, potable drinking water and recharge of the ground water aquifer, it was decided to create an independent small dams organisation (SDO) for carrying out planning, design and construction of small dams, he added. The SDO was established on January 1, 2003.
The benefits of small dams, DG SDO said were that people of water scarce areas would now get water for irrigation and drinking purposes. Similarly, he added fisheries would also develop in those areas besides mitigation of losses caused by floodwater.
The ground water level in those areas where dams were constructed had increased and a number of tube-wells of Public Health Engineering department which had become non-functional due to decrease in water level were now become functional.
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