THATTA, Jan 15: State Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Mohammad Ali Malkani has claimed that the need for building big dams has been accepted by almost all important quarters in the country. He added that construction of dams had become inevitable but in the wake of the current situation, priority should be given to the Bhasha dam.

He was speaking at a gathering in the coastal village of Soomar Rachoo here on Sunday.

About an allegation that he had supported construction of the Kalabagh Dam before a committee, headed by Senator Nisar Ahmad Memon, he said he had suggested in the report that the dam should only be built after consensus among the provinces on the issue.

Praising President Gen Pervez Musharraf for his services for coastal districts, he said the president had ordered withdrawal of a fishing contract of Rangers at Zero Point, restored rights of fishermen and started construction of watercourses in the area.