'20 dams being built in Potohar'

Lahore: Punjab Irrigation Minister Syed Dilawar Abbas has said his department is building 20 small dams at a cost of Rs 4 billion to bring about a green revolution in the Potohar region, that will irrigate 47,000 acres of agri-land and provide potable drinking water to more than 3 million people.

He visited the Domeli Dam being constructed at a cost of Rs 270 million in Sohawa in Jehlum on Friday, where city irrigation development Chief Engineer Zaka Ullah Bhatti, Small Dams Project Director Ubaidullah Randhawa, Jhelum Small Dams XEN Rai Muhammad Amin and cultivators were also present.

Abbas said the government had eliminated the deprivations of the people by giving special attention to agri-development in Barani areas. He also said out of 20 dams construction of 10 dams have been completed while nine small dames would be completed in June 2008. 'Construction work of Ghambeer Dam in District Chakwal at a cost of Rs 1.5 billion would soon be started,' he added.

He directed the officers of small Dams organisation to make consultation with the local cultivators with regard to supply of water. He said due to the measures taken by the government the objective of self-reliance in agriculture produce would be achieved.

Earlier, while giving briefing to the minister, Chief Engineer Irrigation Development Zaka Ullah Bhatti informed him that construction work of six small dams at a cost of Rs 670 million was started during the last five years, out of which three dams have been completed while the rest of the three dams, would be completed in June 2008. 'With the construction of these dams 9000 acre area of district Jhelum would be irrigated.

With the construction of Domeli Dam at a cost of Rs 270 million, 3000 acres of land would be irrigated,' he added. The minister inspected various parts of the dam and ordered the Jhelum Small Dams XEN to ensure the provision of maximum irrigation water to the cultivators.