February 29, 2008	Friday	Safar 21, 1429

PESHAWAR, Feb 28: Feasibility studies for building two dams in the Khyber Agency have been prepared.

This was informed at a meeting held here on Thursday under NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani, says a handout. The meeting was told that the feasibility reports prepared by Nespak had recommended construction of the two dams.

It was told that the Bara dam would irrigate 50,000 acres area in Fata and settled areas of Peshawar. The dam will also serve as a source of drinking water for nearby areas. Two million cusecs potable water can be provided to the Bara Bazaar and eight million cusecs to Hayatabad in Peshawar.

The dam will have a storage capacity of 88,000 acres feet water and will also have the capacity to produce 2MW electricity. The life of the water reservoir was estimated between 80 and 100 years.

The study mentioned that with construction of the dam, the Bara River Canal System would become functional and would reduce flood damages from the river.

Similarly, the proposed Jabba Dam, south of Jamrud in Khyber Agency, has also been found feasible. The dam can serve as the principal source of water supply to Jamrud and Hayatabad.

The governor said the projects would help in agricultural development in the area. He said such projects even in construction stage could be of economic benefits to local people because they would get job opportunities and training in respective fields.

“We must go fast for these development projects, which have multiple benefits and impacts,” Mr Ghani said, adding that the projects should be executed as soon as possible.