The feasibility study has been started throughout Balochistan province for identification of 20 sites for construction of small and medium dams. Sources in the Finance Ministry stated that Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing technical assistance to the Balochistan province for feasibility study of water resources development projects in two basins, including Zhob Basin. The consultant will prepare the feasibility study in 18 months time and most of these potential dams would be identified by June 2017.

Additionally, a number of dams are also being implemented through funding of the federal Public Sector Development Programme. They added that Balochistan is divided into 18 major river basins and rainfall in these basins generates about 10 million acres feet of surface water at average annually.

These dams are being constructed to conserve the water and then its utilisation for irrigation and other purposes. The utilisation of water due to inadequate hydraulic infrastructure dams is about 2.5 million acres feet. The rest of 7.5 million acres feet of floodwater is being wasted and drained out in the sea. The Irrigation department Balochistan has initiated a number of dam projects for conservation of surface/floodwater flow for recharge of groundwater for agriculture development and drinking requirements in various districts of the province.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017