KARAK: Small dams should be constructed across Karak as if that doesn’t happen, the underground water reservoirs in many parts of the district will turn brackish in the next few years.

This was stated by district officer of soil conservation department Karak Mohammad Yaseen Wazir while talking to reporters here.

Wazir said a large quantity of rainwater went to waste in Karak annually through seasonal water channels due to lack of dams.

He said there were more than 200 sites in the district which were feasible for the construction of small dams.

“The rainwater could be managed and used to resolve drinking water crisis in the district if dams are constructed,” he said.

The official said underground water reservoirs in the district were turning brackish very fast.

He said water table was lowering and only the construction of small dams could help it go up and thus, increasing sweet water in underground reservoirs.

Wazir said in different areas of the district, the soil conservation department had built small dams to the benefit of farmers and that the dams had also helped resolve shortage of drinking water.

He said surveys had proved Karak had many suitable places for the construction of small dams.

The official said if small dams were built, soil erosion in the district would end automatically and thus, making a vast area available for cultivation.

He suggested that if the local elected representatives allocate a good portion of oil and gas royalty or production bonus for the construction of small dams every year, then the drinking water problem could be resolved on permanent basis.

Wazir warned if the situation remained unchanged, then there would be severe shortage of drinking water in the district during the next few years and causing water table to go down further.

TWO SHOPS GUTTED: Two shops in Karak city were destroyed in a huge fire on Monday night.

Traders said the fire erupted in Zarqanos Market due to electrical short-circuit destroying two shops.

They said firefighters took few hours to put out the fire.

The traders appealed to the government to compensate traders, whose shops were destroyed.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014