KOHAT, March 21: The people of Shakardarra, who have been demanding provision of gas from the recently-discovered huge oil and gas reserves near the town, have asked the government to provide them water in place of gas, also reminding about the much-delayed Nokradin dam irrigation project.

The Nazim of Shakardarra, Abdur Rasheed Khattak, and other elders while talking to Dawn on Friday, said that the NWFP governor during a visit to the area had promised to solve the water shortage problem of Shakardarra, which is 250 feet above the Indus river water level, through a joint venture with Punjab government in the shape of Nokradin dam.

The feasibility for the project had been completed and cost had also been worked out but the project was shelved for unknown reasons.

The dam which is to be built in Mianwali district of Punjab would help irrigate 80 per cent of barren land in Shakardarra in NWFP besides solving the drinking water problem, according to a survey report of the UNDP.

The report said that the district council of Mianwali had accepted the proposal forwarded to them by the UNDP but the NWFP government was not giving proper attention to the vital scheme.

The dam, according to the report would be fed by two water resources mainly Sandao Algada and Saindo Algada. The height of the dam is 250 feet and width 110 feet whereas the water obtained from the two resources would be stored in a 16 square kilometre wide lake.

Presently, the potable water is supplied to the oil rich area with the help of water tankers which are incapable to meet the needs of the local population. The arrangement had been made by the OGDC for the benefit of the people on temporary basis.