Ministry of Water and Power is sponsoring the construction of these 20 dams which would be completed in three years. The project will be implemented by Irrigation Department, Government of Balochistan through contractors under supervision of consultants. All funds would be provided by the federal government and there is no foreign component. The government has budgeted Rs 1 billion for 20 dams in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for current financial year 2016-17.
According to documents, Balochistan province generates total surface flood flows of 10.79, 3.25 and 25.23 billion cubic meters during average, dry and wet years respectively. This indicates an increase of 134 percent during wet years and a decrease of 70 percent during dry years. It is therefore evident that harnessing of flood flows for, inter alia, direct irrigation, drinking and recharge purposes offers great potential.
The project will directly address the water scarcity issue by providing storage during flash floods thus not only providing water for irrigation and drinking purposes but also reducing the risk of flood damage. By delaying the flood peaks, the dams will also contribute to Ground Water Recharge.
The area for 20 dams has been divided into two zones (south and North). The dams in South Zone include Jandra Dam at an estimated cost of Rs 185.75 million, Shamshi Dam, Rs 555.56 million, Sohinda Gravity Dam Zehri, Rs 1.3 billion, Morgi at Bal & Rodangi Dam, Rs 425.24 million, Neelag Dasht Dam, Rs 246.47 million, Sorap Dam, Rs 166.73 million, Soran Dam, Rs 144.3 million, Bunap Dam, Rs 169.44 million, Arrah Dam, 634.18 million and Washuk Dam at a cost of Rs 574.94 million.
The dams in North Zone included Zawarkan Gravity Dam at an estimated cost of Rs 229.89 million, five small/check dam in Killa Abdullah, Rs 148.69 million, Sanjadi Dam & small dam at Saran Tangi River, Rs 348.8 million, Kuchani Dara Dam in Urak area with small dam in Kilikhanan, Rs 290.2 million, Kadani Dam, Rs 585.99 million, Khaisar Dam at a cost of 467.37 million.
The project covers the entire province therefore all stakeholders would be taken on board and locations of dams are to be reviewed and finalised by Irrigation Department in consultation with public representatives. This will help strengthen the political implication of the project.