ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources was informed on Monday that the Kohat division has great potential for water resources and a vast amount of land can be irrigated by the raising of Tanda Dam.

The committee meeting was chaired by Senator Shamim Afridi.

During a briefing, the committee was informed of dams completed so far, dams under construction and dams in the feasibility study stage, as well as the status of construction work on Zamir Gul Dam in Ziarat Sheikh Allah Dad, the provision of water channels to the Mandoni and Shahid Pur villages and adjacent areas for irrigation, and the raising of Tanda Dam.

Zamir Gul Dam, Khattak Banda Dam and Makh Banda Dam in Kohat division are three ongoing projects with a storage capacity of 6,691 acre feet, 4,988 acre feet and 693 acre feet, respectively, the committee was told.

A water resources ministry representativeadded: “Gandiali Dam, Chanda Fateh Khan Dam, Kandar Dam, Naryab Dam, Changhoze Dam and Sharki Dam have been completed in Kohat division.”

Senators were told that Tanda Dam will have an embankment height of 115ft and a length of 2,430ft.

The reservoir’s capacity will be 78,000 acre feet. It will provide a 80 kilometre canal system and will irrigate 30,372 acres of land in the division.

While discussing the grievances of affected people of Neelum Jhelum Project who belong to Nausari village in Muzzafarabad district, the committee was told that the demands of affected people include permanent resettlement, compensation of land in compliance with prevailing market rates, job opportunities and construction of a protection wall.

The committee was told the first three demands were taken care when construction began and the matter of the protection wall will be looked into afterwards to see what can be undertaken.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2020