KARACHI: Sindh will be the only province to have as many as 122 small dams of which around 50 dams have already been made operational, 39 new ones are under tendering process. The paperwork on 43 new dams have also been started, it is learnt.
The major purpose of these 122 small dams which costs more than Rs 12211 million is to cater to the water needs of the people residing in far-flung areas.
According to a briefing by the Chief Engineer, Small Dams Organization, the wing of the provincial irrigation department, the Sindh government had launched a series of small dams to contain the water crisis in the districts. Various potential sites were identified for small water reservoirs, particularly along the Kirthar Mountain on the western side of the province, Kohistan, Karoonjhar and Urban Shah Hills.
There are strong opportunities for storing rain water in natural catchments of the Kirthar hills which can be used for cultivation, livestock and human consumption on sustainable basis, according to a briefing.
The Kirthar mountain range, shared by Balochistan and Sindh, extends southward for about 300 km from the Mula River in east-central Balochistan to the Cape Muari west of Karachi on the Arabian Sea.
According to official documents available with the Sindh, a total of 50 small dams have so far been completed out of which 28 dams were completed under the province’s Annual Development Plan (ADP) while 22 dams under federally-funded Public Sector Development Program (PSDP).
Among these small dams, some 12 dams are located in Nagarparkar – Mithi, while 14 dams in Kohistan-I Dadu and 24 dams in Kohistan-II Jamshoro range.
Under the ADP schemes, the dams which have been completed include Ranpur bund, Mulji, Bhodesar Tank, Khararo Bund, Tobirio Tank, Lakhy-Jo-Wandio, Salari, Makhi, Rani Kot, Bandhani-I, Taki, Maliriri, Mohan, Ashoro Kuch, Suku, Koteri, Thado-II, Langheji, Nai-Mango, Kalu-1, Jharando, Sari, Malir Memon Goth Weir, Kataro, Meer Chakar, Mole Nadi, German Dhoro, Ranpathani and others.
While the small dams under PSDP are: Naryasar, Ghartiari, Gordhro Bhatiani, Jhinjsar, Lakar Khadio, Khuwara in Nagarparkar-Mithi, Shori, Kukrani, Bandhani-II, Khurbi, Ding Dhoro, Buri in Kohistan-I Dadu and Mullan, Bazkhando, Gaddap, Khand Dhoro, Ullar-Rahuja, Upper Mole, German Dhoro, Ranpathani, Liyari and Watan Wari.
Moreover, some 12 small dams underway under PSDP included Surachand Bund, Chanida Dam, Rinmalsar, Adhigham in Nagarparkar-Mithi, Hassan Jo Kun, Malir Bukhshan, Sukhan in Kohistan-II Jamshoro and LarhaNai, AikrsoNai, UkhariNai, KiniriNai and WariwaroNai.