Minister of State for Water and Power Engineer Amir Maqam has said that the government intends to give priority for construction of small dams in the NWFP to cope with the situation of water shortage in the province.
He stated this while talking to a delegation, led by Salim Saifullah Khan, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League here on Tuesday.
They discussed in depth the ways and means for addressing the issues of water shortage in the southern parts of the province.
Salim Saifullah Khan stressed the need for the construction of small dams to generate the agriculture activities by irrigating the barren lands in the area and to produce sufficient electricity as well for the local population of the southern area of the NWFP.
He also informed the minister that the government has started a project of Gomal Zam dam that would benefit the area in boosting the agri-economy in the area. He also demanded starting of Kurram Tangi project, which would also help generate agri activities, and to provide more employments to the people of the area.
The minister assured the delegation that the federal government has planned to construct the important projects ie Gomal Zam dam and Kurram Tangi project.
He stated that the capacity of water storage of Gomal Zam dam is 1.14 MAF, the area under irrigation will be 163,00 acres, and electricity of 17.4 MW will be produced by this project and the dam will be completed in June 2006.
The minister also said that the Kurram Tangi project would irrigate 84,500 acres of land and produce 58.0 MW power. He also informed the delegation that the feasibility of this project has been completed and the dam would be constructed in four years.
He was of the view that these two small dams would not only irrigate sizeable barren lands in the area but also provide sufficient jobs to the people of the area. He said that the present government was committed to take sincere measures to tackle the issues of water shortage in the country.