LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Saturday granted approval to a dam project at Surra near Sanghar town of Dera Ghazi Khan district and directed that it should be reflected in the Annual Development Programme for the next financial year.

Presiding over a meeting through video-link at the chief minister’s office here to review different projects of dams to be constructed to store the hill-torrents’ water in Rajanpur and DG Khan districts, the chief minister directed that the feasibility study of the dam project at Surra should be completed at the earliest.

He said the hill-torrents water in DG Khan and Rajanpur could be stored and used for agriculture and irrigation purposes.

He said the construction of the dam at Surra would provide water to people up to Taunsa in abundant quantity, besides ensuring development of agriculture sector.

“The Surra dam project will prove to be a game-changer for the area,” he said.

Mr Buzdar also directed constitution of a steering committee and a separate working group for the project, headed by the Planning and Development Board chairman.

The working group consists of experts of relevant departments.

The chief minister said the Punjab government would start the Surra dam as a pilot project to conserve rainwater that went down the drain during the rainy season. He added it was very important to utilise this water after storing it.

He said the dam construction would also promote tourism in the area.

Mr Buzdar was briefed on the technical issues and about the progress on the feasibility study of the dam project.

The principal secretary to chief minister, irrigation secretary, P&D Board chairman, finance secretary, the chief engineer of Nespak and others participated in the meeting.

Administrative secretaries of agriculture, forests, livestock and housing departments participated in the meeting from the committee room of the civil secretariat through video-link and experts from Turkey and Germany attended through zoom.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2021