LAHORE, May 29: The Punjab Irrigation and Power Department will start work on four mini-dams in the Potohar area during the next fiscal year.

Provincial minister Amer Sultan Cheema said this on Thursday while talking to the legislators from the area.

He said Mial dam had been planned at a cost of Rs65 million in Chakwal district, Lehri and Domeli dams in Jhelum at a cost of Rs124 million and Rs130 million, respectively, and Pir Ratta Sharif dam in Chakwal at a cost of Rs123 million. Work had already been started on Basal dam in Attock, he said.

The Potohar area, comprising 2.2 million hectare, is the largest barani area, but characterized with deteriorating land resources, negligible infrastructural development and small fragmented land holding with limited agriculture options and poor employment opportunities.