Engineering Post Report
In line with the National Water Policy 2018, efforts continue to be made to improve system augmentation and conveyance water efficiency enhancement in the country.
The existing strategy “Integrated Water Resources Management” duly recognizes the dire need for introducing appropriate policy measures, institutional reforms and knowledge-based interventions to make water infrastructure and management system more efficient and sustainable.
Water is scare and water use is not efficient. Pakistan’s water storage efficiency is only 9 per cent as compared to 40 per cent of the world average. As such, it is imperative to improve the water efficiency , agricultural productivity enhancement for contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth under New Growth Approach.
Accordingly, construction of medium, small, delay action dams and recharge dams continues in all the four provinces of the country.
As much as Rs 22.771 billion were reported to have been utilized during financial year 2019-20 on these dams in Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa as detailed below:
Punjab Rs 2912 million on Ghabir and Papin dams.
Sindh Rs 2813 million on Darawat & Nai Gaj, small dams in Kohistan
and Nagarparkar areas of Sindh.
Khyber Rs 4306 million on Kurram Tangi, Kundal/Sanam dam, Baran
Pukhtoonkhwa : dam and 20 small dams in Nowshehra, Karak,
Swabi,Haripur and Kohat
Balochistan Rs 8867 million on Naulong, Garuk Danm, construction
of as many as 100 small dams (Package 11 & 111), Basool,
Mangi Dam and other small dams.
Due to gradual decrease in the surface water inflow at Rim Stations, water availability at farm gate (both surface and groundwater) remained about 130 Million Acres Feet (MAF). About Rs 2821 million are being utilized for the completion of Right Bank Outfall Drain RBOD-1 and 111 projects to protect and reclaim water-logged and salt effected irrigated land and Manchar Lake.
