The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has made significant strides in water management and flood prevention. It is vivid in the completion of the construction of 37 small dams in KP. Additionally, construction on 24 others along various rivers and water channels is underway.
A spokesman from the Directorate of Small Dams in the Irrigation Department shared detailed insights into these initiatives.
Among the completed dams, 15 are operational under the auspices of the provincial government. The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is supervising 11 others. In the merged districts of KPK, 19 dams have been successfully constructed, collectively providing a water storage capacity of 0.1377. Additionally, the federal government’s PSDP has facilitated the ongoing construction of 24 small dams across different districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The federal government has played a pivotal role in key dam projects. These projects comprise the Pezu Dam in Lakki Marwat, Khattak Bandhan Dam in Kohat, and Makh Banda Dam in Karak. Joint efforts between the federal and KP governments have also resulted in the completion of significant projects. These include the Ichar and Manchura dams in Mansehra, the Chashma Akorakhel dam in Karak, the Sarozai Dam in Hangu, the Sanam Dam in Lower Dir, and the Bada Dam and Ulta Dam in Swabi.
Also, the spokesman revealed that seven medium dams are currently in the design stage. These include the Bara Dam in Khyber, Tank Zam in Tank, Sheikh Haider Zam, Chaudwan Zam, Daraban, Kora Nullah in Dera Ismail Khan, and Larzan Dam in Tank. It is a step toward boasting a substantial power generation capacity of 31.5 megawatts.
Additionally, seven more medium dams have completed their design phase. These projects include Barwasa and Sher Dara in Swabi, Sumri Payan in Kohat, Surkhaway in Mardan, Naki in Nowshera, Shaheed Banda in Charsadda, and Tora Warae in Hangu.
All in all, these comprehensive efforts underscore the government’s commitment to water resource management, flood prevention, and sustainable development. The completion and ongoing construction of dams across the region are vital steps toward ensuring water security, mitigating the impact of floods, and fostering a resilient and sustainable future for the province.
