DADU, Dec 17: The Sindh government had completed feasibility report on Nai Baran dam, which would store rainwater of Khirthar Range, and selected sites for the construction of seven other small dams in progress, said Sindh Irrigation Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday.

Talking to journalists during his visit to the site for Nai Baran dam in Jingri village near Thana Bula Khan, Mr Shah said that work on small dams would start soon under directives of the president. Water of Khirthar Range would be stored and then used for agriculture and power generation, he said.

He said that sites for seven other small dams, including Salari near Mehar, Sita near Khairpur Nathan Shah, Nai Nalai near Johi, Chinji Paran and Dila in Qambar-Shahdadkot district and Mole and Dau Darar in the Kohistan belt between Jamshoro and Karachi had been selected.

Earlier, the minister held a meeting with project director RBOD Rafique Ahmed Memon, Chief Engineer Development Pir Munwarul Haq, Chief Engineer Right Bank of Sukkur Barrage Agha Aijaz Ahmed and Executive Engineer RBOD at Nai Gaaj Bungalow in Johi.

Jamshoro District Nazim Malik Asad Sikandar suggested that small powerhouses be constructed at the small dams in Kohistan, which could supply power to different parts of Jamshoro.

Irrigation Secretary Shuja Ahmed said that rainwater of Khirthar stored in the dams could be ultilised for 12 months.

Project director of Small Dams Organisation, Khalid Haider Memon, said in his briefing to the minister that the dam would store 120,000 cusec rainwater. He said that his organisation had demanded Rs3.987 billion for the construction of Nai Baran Dam, which would be 160 feet high and irrigate 25,000 acres.