DADU, Sept 18: Federal Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi has said a dam on the Nai Gaj Nala will be constructed to irrigate land in the western belt of the district.

Talking to journalists here on Saturday, he said he had discussed the matter with the Wapda chairman a few days back.

He said feasibility report of the dam was being prepared and work on the project, for which the federal government would provide funds, would be initiated next year.

About the water situation, the minister said 135,000 cusecs of water had reached the Tarbela Dam, adding that sufficient quantity of water was available for Rabi crops.

He said water would be distributed for Kharif crops among the provinces on equal basis.

He said the country was facing water shortage because it had not received enough rains and temperature in Northern Areas had decreased, slowing down the ice melting process.

The minister held irrigation officials responsible for unjust distribution of water.

Referring to power load-shedding, Mr Jatoi said load-shedding would be stopped within six months.

He directed Hesco officers to change their attitude with consumers and stop issuing detection and excessive bills, otherwise their services would be terminated. He said Wapda officers whose performance was not good would be sacked.

About damages to the Sukkur Barrage, the minister observed that Sindh's agriculture depended on this barrage and people would sustain heavy losses if the barrage was not repaired on time.

However, he said the repair work of the barrage would be initiated soon and the federal government would provide funds for the purpose. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would also visit the barrage soon.

He announced that wells would be dug in drought-affected Kachho area from a fund of Rs10 million, provided by the federal government.

diseases: Nazim of Johi union council Mohammad Usman Jamali and president of the Kachho Cultural and Development Organization Pir Bux Babbur have said that diseases were spreading among the people of Kachho because of malnutrition.

Talking to journalists, they alleged that the health staff was not performing their duties in the Kachho area.

They said that a team of army doctors would set up one-day medical camps in the villages of Mureedero and Haji Khan on September 21.