I&P to spend Rs 2155-mn for small dam construction

Lahore: The Provincial Irrigation & Power Department (I&P) is spending an amount of Rs 2155 million on the construction of small dams in district Potohar including Jhelum, Chakwal, Rawalpindi and Attock. These schemes besides providing water for the irrigation purposes will also supply clean drinking water to the people of these areas.

Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz averred this while meeting a delegation of farmers and political workers of Potohar here on Sunday.

The minister maintained that continuous supply of water for irrigation purposes remained the main focal point. Elaborating further he dilated that a sum of Rs1056 million had already been spent during the current fiscal year while another amount of Rs 1099 million had been earmarked in the next financial budget of 2008-09, he added.

Punjab Senior Minister said that I&P Department was spending Rs 157.198 million for Haji Shah Dam at Hazro, Rs 267 million for small dams in Gujar Khan tehsils, Rs 435 million for Dhurabi and Minwal Dams in Chakwal, Rs 404 million for Phase two of construction of small dams namely Kot Fateh Khan, Shahbazpur, Tatiabara and Sadrial Dam in District Attock, Rs 476 million for Ugham Dam Project at Gujjar Khan, Rs 804 million for Phase two of Dhoke Hum, Mandee, Dhok Jehan and Uthwall/Lakhwal Dam Project in Chakwal and Rs 57 million for Fatehpur Dam at Pind Dadan Khan, Jhelum.

The minister added that a total of 26085 acres of agricultural land would be brought under active cultivation due to these projects. He said the department besides arranging inspection huts would also develop suitable number of irrigation channels, outlet structures and Cofferdams. He impressed upon the farmers to apply progressive methods of cultivation for boosting up agriculture of the region.