KARAK: Provincial director general soil conservation Yasin Khan Wazir has said construction of small and mini dams is the only way to prevent the underground water table from depleting further in Karak district.

Briefing MNA Shahid Ahmad Khatak here on Saturday, he said geographical study of the district had revealed that the underground water level was fast depleting. He said work on construction of a mini dam in Lakhani had been completed which would put positive effects on the underground water table in the district.

Mr Wazir said with the help of a foreign NGO dams would be constructed in the district, adding during last three years 82 projects of mini dams, check dams, spillways and retaining walls had been completed.

He said construction of dams could also bring green revolution in the district. He said the authorities of oil and gas companies working in the district had also termed construction of small dams vital to secure the underground water table.

Mr Wazir said the companies had contacted their department to work jointly on the issue to benefit the people. He said millions of cusecs of water got wasted during monsoon season and there was need to store it to be utilised both for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The soil conservation officer said they had taken a satellite imagery of the district and there were many suitable places where small, mini and check dams could be constructed at a very low cost. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was taking keen interest in providing clean drinking water to people.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS: MPA Malik Zafar Azam has claimed that development projects will be initiated in the district as soon as funds are received from the provincial government.

Talking to mediapersons on Saturday, he said oil and gas royalty funds to be received from the provincial government would be spent on development of the people only. He said all areas of his constituency would get equal share in development projects. He regretted that royalty funds had been misappropriated in the past.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2019