The Balochistan government has accelerated the construction of dams and increased the budget in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the current fiscal year, in order to address the province's water scarcity problem, Balochistan Minister for Irrigation Mir Muhammad Khan Lehri told media.

He said that construction on the Naulong Dam on the Mula River in Jhal Magsi will begin shortly and that preparations were being made to build a hydroelectric plant to use the dam to produce energy. The completion of these projects will also benefit the irrigation system, he added. To protect against rainwater, he said, the government needs to speed up the work on Winder dam.

Around 20 dams have been destroyed by overflow brought on by torrential rains and floods in Killa Abdullah, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Pishin, Kech, and Chaman. The government has started an investigation into the failure of tiny dams and has vowed to punish anyone who uses inferior building materials, he said

The Irrigation Department is actively protecting the dams from damage and closely monitoring the situation, which is under control. Additionally, he continued, a government investigation had been started to prevent additional damage. Within a month, the government has begun to restore the canal system in Naseerabad Division, which was by flooding and prolonged periods of rain, he said.

As the government had launched several schemes to promote modern irrigation systems, he advised the farmers to install drip irrigation systems in their fields because they were affordable and gave a good return on investment. To satisfy the demands, the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has sped up the development and repair work on the Kachhi Canal Project, which was severely damaged by floods and rain, Lehri said.

If the repair work on the canals is not finished sooner, thousands of acres of barren land in Dera Bugti and the surrounding areas will not be irrigated, thus leading to a food shortage, he added. He said that by promoting irrigated agriculture and an agro-based economy in the province, the Kachhi Canal is an essential initiative for eradicating extremism and reducing poverty in remote and underdeveloped parts of Balochistan.

He said it is a fantastic indicator for the province that the land being farmed in Sui and the surrounding regions of Dera Bugti district through the existing Kachhi Canal has brought about a wonderful shift in the way of life of the residents.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk