The development and provision of basic amenities of life at people's doorstep is legal and constitutional right of every citizen. The development of the under-developed areas not only address the problems of local people, but also contribute towards improving the overall development index by mitigating poverty, backwardness and unemployment.
The remote areas were worst hit by poverty, under-development and lack of earning resources. The federally administered tribal area (Fata) is a valid example.
But, in recent years, the situation took a turn and the government for the first time focused on harnessing the natural resources, including the agriculture and the water resources for the betterment of Fata people.
Greater emphasis has been laid on building small dams in different tribal agencies to conserve the scarce water resources in Fata for agrarian purposes. Five small water reservoirs are being completed during the current financial year, including Kharo Khwar dam in Bajaur Agency, Mir Kalam and Mursi Khel dams in North Wazirisitan Agency and Kot Ragha and Maidani dams in Kurram Agency.
The Mursi Khel and Mir Kalam dams in North Waziristan Agency costing Rs 206.41 million are expected to be completed during the current year. These dams will ensure supply of water to 1,435 acres of land.
Similarly, Kot Ragha and Maidani small dams in Kurram Agency are being completed at an estimated cost of Rs 332.76 million. The two small water reservoirs will bring 2,328 acres area under irrigation.
The Kharoshah dam in Bajaur Agency, being built at a cost of Rs 82.12 million, will ensure smooth supply of water to 408 acres of land.
The Talai dam in Bajaur Agency with a command area of 275 acres has recently been completed at a cost of Rs 18.987 million.
These water reservoirs, after the completion, would greatly benefit the agriculture sector, trigger economic prosperity and generate job opportunities in the tribal area.
They will also help recharge the ground water level and pave the way for installation of tube-wells.
Besides small dams, two mega water projects - Gomal Zam and Kurram Tangi dams - have been approved for Fata. The work has commenced on the Gomal Zam dam project and the water potential of Gomal Zam River is being harnessed for generation of power and irrigation purposes.
The Gomal Zam dam, being constructed on Gomal River at Khajuri Kach, would cost Rs 12,829 million. The dam will consist of a spillway, power house and irrigation system. The discharge capacity of its spillway would be 4,330 cusecs and its powerhouse will generate 17.4 MW electricity.
This dam will ensure supply of water to 163.086 acres of land in Waziristan and its adjoining areas.
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has also approved a fabulous amount of Rs 17,200 million for construction of Kurram Tangi dam in North Waziristan Agency.
This dam will have storage capacity of 0.92 million acres feet besides generating 63 MW electricity. The facility will help irrigate 361,880 acres of land and save agricultural land from the ravages of floods as large amount of flood water in Kurram and Kaitu rivers will be stored in this reservoir.
These two projects, when completed, would bring green revolution in the area with a visible change in the socio-economic life of the tribal people.
Besides small and big dams, other channels of irrigation include tube-wells, dug wells, canals, springs and streams.
An amount of Rs 618 million has been set apart in the current ADP for 58 schemes pertaining to irrigation.
Figures show that at present, out of total area of about 7,000,000 acres only 500,000 acre or 7 percent of land in the vast mountainous tract of Fata is under cultivation.
Substantial potential exists to double the cultivated area through reclamation of cultivable wasteland and developing irrigation facilities.
The government has adopted short and long-term strategies to increase farm productivity and profitability through innovative methods.
Everybody can understand the change coming to this area after the irrigation of additional around one million acres land. More people will get employment opportunities and construction of reservoirs in the area would help meet the food deficiency in the area. The credit goes to the present government.
The government is determined to accomplish this task under the 'Water Vision of President General Pervez Musharraf' by constructing big as well as small water reservoirs that would bring revolutionary changes.
What is needed now, is the continuity of these policies and achieve the ultimate goal of bringing prosperity to these long neglected areas and ameliorating the lot of tribal people.
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