Faisal Karim Kundi, acting speaker of the National Assembly, on Friday said construction of dams was inevitable for the prosperity and progress of the country.
He said the construction of dams would not only control massive loss of water during monsoon season every year, but would also be imperative for better agri-production and address the energy crisis.
Presiding over a meeting regarding Gomal Zam Dam at Parliament House, Kundi said expressed concern over the non-inclusion of Waran Canal in PC-I of Gomal Zam Dam. He said that was a very important canal which could irrigate a vast area of the region. He said that due to non-inclusion of the said canal in the PC-I of the Gomal Zam Dam, the whole project had become redundant, causing grave concern amongst the people of the area. Kundi directed WAPDA to include the WARAN Canal in PC-I project.
Member WAPDA assured the acting speaker of giving priority to Waran Canal and after its redesigning the work on project would be started within two months. He also said USAID had approved $40 million for the said project, which would be completed by the end of next year. He said besides irrigation, the project would also generate 17 megawatts of electricity.
The WAPDA member said a meeting of all stakeholders would be convened in the month of October regarding Gomal Zam Dam for a comprehensive briefing to stakeholders and to get their suggestions for betterment of the project. He said that in light of their suggestions, a procedure for distribution of water and rules of regulation would be prepared and published in the shape of a booklet.
Acting speaker Kundi directed WAPDA to initiate work on CRBC gravity-cum-uplift project, which was a long outstanding demand of the people of DI Khan. He said a vast barren area of the DI Khan and adjacent districts could be cultivated by the project.
Kundi said it would boost the economy of the area and upgrade the life standard of the people. He also asked WAPDA to construct a bridge at Khor Nalah, which was destroyed by last year’s flood and early directed for the early repairs of CRBC.
The meeting was attended by Syed Ragib Abbas, member (Water) WAPDA, representatives of Gomal Zam and Irrigation Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a large number of farmers from Tank district.
