ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: The Ministry of Water and Power has started study to identify sites for the construction of small dams all over the country.

The ministry sources states that the federal secretary has directed the Water Wing of the ministry to conduct a survey in various areas of the country for identifying potential sites for the new dams.

New small dams will be built in all the four provinces to

meet local as well as national water requirements, keeping in view the expected shortage of water reservoirs in the time to come.

The ministry has made a plan to construct maximum number of small dams to enhance water storage capacity of the country to meet the agriculture requirements.

The ministry has also formed a team of experts to expedite the engineering and feasibility study of Bhasha Dam in the NWFP, Thal Development Project in Punjab and other associated schemes, including Kachhi Canal Scheme in Balochistan and Sehwan Barrage Complex, and Rainee Canal Project in Sindh.—APP