PESHAWAR, Aug 17: Over Rs500m investment would be made in the irrigation sector of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of the federal government during the 2003-04 financial year, according to sources.

A number of schemes involving irrigation channels, watercourses, small dams and hydel power generation units would be executed in different administrative units of Fata, including Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur agencies in addition to the Frontier Regions falling under the administrative jurisdiction of Peshawar.

According to official sources, a sum of Rs25m has been set aside for the construction of two small dams in Bajaur agency.

Special emphasis, said the official, was being laid on improving Fata’s irrigation sector to ensure proper and effective use of irrigation water by developing water storage schemes in parts of Fata experiencing shortage of water for irrigation purposes.

In addition to two small dams, ten wells would also be developed in Bajaur agency at an estimated cost of Rs10m.

An amount of Rs20m has been allocated for developing 20 wells in the Ambaar valley of Mohmand agency. In addition to that, a sum of Rs10m has been earmarked for the expansion of Warsak canal in Mohmand agency and Rs1m would be spent on developing ten small ponds in different parts of the agency.

In order to improve the irrigations system in Khyber Agency, the government has set aside Rs50m for establishing 15 small hydel power generation units, Rs100m for constructing a dam at Aqeel Bara, Rs30m for executing 20 irrigation schemes in different parts and Rs300m for constructing a dam to store water of the river Bara for irrigation.

Nine irrigation schemes would be executed in Kurram agency at an estimated cost of Rs30m in addition to the construction of a dam at Medani area in the same agency for which Rs30m has been allocated under the PSDP for the 2003-04 financial year.

Besides, an amount of Rs40m has been allocated for the execution of irrigation schemes in Orakzai agency, whereas a sum of Rs40m has been allocated for constructing two dams in the Frontier Regions.