ISLAMABAD The government has approved Rs12.963 billion for rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage systems in Sindh and Rs2.15 billion for construction of 20 delay action dams in Balochistan.

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, also approved Rs2.637 billion for construction of Shadi Kaur Dam and related projects in Balochistan.

The dams falling under package-I on fan areas will store water during the rainy season and let it percolate in order to create artificial recharge for a sustained flow during dry months.

The dams will be built in districts Awaran, Kalat, Bolan, Chaghi, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Kech, Lasbela, Loralai, Mastung, Musakhel, Panjgur, Dishin, Quetta, Washuk, Ziarat and Zhob.

The project on completion will store 55,000 acre feet of additional water and benefit 35,000 acres of agricultural land. It will also recharge groundwater and more than 13, 000 households will benefit from it.

The dams will be completed in three years and over 5,000 skilled and non-skilled people from Balochistan will be engaged in the construction work.

The project will help raise the value of agricultural crops from Rs17.42 million a year to Rs389.53 million. The income per acre is expected to rise from Rs12,778 to Rs25,650.

The Rs12.963 billion project for Sindh includes strengthening of canal and drain banks (8,082km), silt clearance of branches (3,635km), stone pitching of canal bank (380km), repairing and remodelling of 241 regulators, rehabilitation of 201 bridges, repair and extension of 11,725 modules, revamping and rehabilitation of the salinity control and reclamation project for tubewells and re-sectioning of 568km surface drain.

It will ensure safety of the canal system and provide water to tail-end farmers.

The Shadi Kaur Dam, which will be built 50km north of Pasni (Balochistan), will have a storage capacity of 37,000 acre feet of water. It will irrigate 7,600 acre of agricultural land and provide drinking water to 15,000 people.

All projects will be financed by the federal government with financial assistance from international lenders.