Govt releases Rs 360m for Darawat Dam

More on this   Power subsidy: New govt to bear extra Rs200b Operations: Attock and PSO acquire refuelling hub SECP registers 327 new companies LG to invest billions to capture Pakistan market FBR striving hard to achieve Rs2,050b target Sugar sector sees new govt to stabilise export policy Ignoring Thar coal reserves main reason for energy crisis

ISLAMABAD: Federal government on Tuesday released Rs 360 million for long awaiting under-construction water reservoir Darawat Dam particularly to absorb the massive volume of floodwater of Sindh province.

The Darawat Dam, which is located in Thatta and Jamshoro districts would after completion be able to store 0.120 million acre feet (MAF) water to irrigate the land of 25,000 acres.

Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) claimed small and medium-sized dams are being constructed in the four provinces and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas for socio-economic uplift of the people residing in the far-flung areas.

WAPDA official said certain Dam was being completed with a total cost of about Rs 9.4 billion, adding main Dam of the project was likely to be completed by December this year, while completion of the irrigation system was scheduled in June 2013.

The project will create 4500 employment opportunities during the construction, operation and its maintenance.

Annual benefits of the project have been estimated more than Rs one billion. Life of the project's water reservoir will be more than 100 years, it was told.

Sources in Ministry of Water and Power revealed funds have been released on the special instructions of premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

Darawat Dam, being constructed across Nai Baran River some 70 kilometers west of Hyderabad, is a component of WAPDA's plan to construct small and medium-sized dams in addition to its mega projects in water and hydropower sectors.

End.