Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Irrigation Arshad Ayub Khan and Special Assistant for Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif Wednesday said PTI Government was taking revolutionary step for the speedy development of the Merged areas (the erstwhile FATA) as the development of integrated districts was the top priority of the Government.
Talking to Media persons during a briefing held at Itlaa Cell Civil Secretariat on ongoing projects of irrigation in the merged districts, the ministers informed that work was underway on 59 projects of Irrigation Department in the merged districts with an estimated cost of Rs. 44 billion.
The Irrigation Minister Arshad Ayub said that historic steps were taken after the amalgamation of the former FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in accordance with the manifesto of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. After the amalgamation, it started with the best framework to bring the amalgamated districts on par with the settled districts.
A separate wing of the Chief Engineer Merged Districts has been set up while the offices of the Executive Engineer have been set up in each district while district offices have been established to provide services to the people at their doorsteps – Former FDA Small Dam Section has been linked with Planning Director General Small Dams.
Special Assistant for Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif told media that development of integrated districts was the top priority adding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were contributing to the NFC for the merged districts. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, integrated districts are on the path of development. By the grace of Allah, there is no shortage of funds for development of integrated districts. Dams are being constructed to ensure preservation and best use of water.
The Provincial Minister for Irrigation while briefing the media said that a significant portion of NFC has been allocated for the construction and development of integrated districts. Completion of development works in the amalgamated districts will bring prosperity in the life of the people. In terms of development, 35 schemes worth Rs. 9 billion were launched under ADP, while 24 projects worth Rs. 35 billion were launched under AIP. These projects include the Jabba Dam worth Rs 10 billion which will provide clean drinking water to one million people of Peshawar and Khyber, while the dam will have a storage capacity of 37982 acre feet and will protect the Khyber Valley from floods. Thus, the storage capacity of Bara Dam will be 85000 acre feet which will generate 6 megawatts of electricity and irrigate 41729 acre of land.
Secretary Irrigation Ayaz Khan while giving details said that there was no problem in providing funds for AIP projects whereas there are problems from time to time in ADP projects. No loan was taken for these projects.
Minister Arshad Ayub Khan further said that work has been started on seven small dams. Warsak Lift Bank Canal Improvement and Construction Project Launched to Provide Irrigation facility to 10000 Acres of Land of Mohmand District, Provision of Irrigation Facility to 44772 Acres of Land of Khyber District Remediation and expansion of Bara River Canal System has been started. Two hundred Chuck Dams and water storage projects have been started to irrigate the integrated districts.
The Irrigation minister said that 475 solar tube well projects have been started to cultivate 12,000 acres of land. In addition, construction and improvement projects of 420 irrigation channels have been initiated to irrigate 25000 acres of land. Arshad Ayub Khan said that food securities were associated with irrigation.
