LAHORE, April 2: Only the present leadership could evolve a consensus for water reservoirs and it is a matter of now or never for new dams.

Punjab Irrigation Minister Amer Sultan Cheema made this claim here on Friday while talking to a group of journalists. The government has already convinced the federating units about the necessity of dams. The only sticking point is priority to be accorded to these projects.

The parliamentary committees will have to finalize their report by June. In case of their failure to build a consensus, the matter will be referred to the president who would take the final decision in this regard. He hoped that all provinces would follow president's decision in the best interest of the country.

Along with big reservoirs, the provinces should also build small dams to meet their requirements and fully utilize this precious natural resource. The Punjab had already started building such dams in the Pothohar region. However, the need for a big dam cannot be postponed, he emphasized.