PESHAWAR, June 12: Four small dams will be constructed with a total estimated cost of over Rs585 million in the NWFP districts facing water scarcity, according to sources.

Two dams will be constructed in the Changoz and Sharki areas of the Karak district with an estimated cost of Rs125 million and Rs200 million, respectively.

Small dam will also be built at Naryab in Hangu district and Kandar in Kohat district.

The Naryab dam would be built at an estimated cost of Rs190 million, whereas the Kandar auxiliary dam involves an estimated cost of over Rs70 million.

The water storage schemes will be utilized for irrigation and are expected to bring large areas under cultivation.

The dams are among the over 550 water schemes being carried out in 14 districts of the province under the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance (Dera) programme.

Though the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank are providing financial assistance for the implementation of Dera — being executed in Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan — the four small dams would be financed by Islamabad, sources said.

Feasibility studies of the projects have been completed and excavation on the sites started.

Sources said the standoff between the NWFP and federal governments over the administrative powers of local governments led to delay in inauguration of the projects by Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani.

“As soon as the chief minister overcomes the crisis, he will inaugurate the work on the projects,” an official said.