F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan Thursday directed to ensure the construction of water courses in Gomal Zam Dam Command Area within stipulated timeline further directing for plantation along canal sites so as to prevent soil erosion in the adjoining areas. He said that with the completion of 462 water courses of GZD Command Area Development will add nearly two lakh acre of agriculture land and will significantly increase agriculture production in the regions of Tank, Kulachi and D.I.Khan districts. He further stated that with the completion of GZD project, the province will be self sufficient in wheat production.
He was presiding over a progress review meeting regarding the command area development program of Gomal Zam Dam Project at Chief Minister Secretariat Peshawar
The Chief Minister appreciated the concerned authorities over the completion of 105 water courses under the command area development program of Gomal Zam Dam project. He said that no stone will be left unturned for the early completion of Gomal Zam Dam project and all possible resources and support would be provided according to revise PC-1 on priority basis.
The meeting was attended by Minister Environment Ishtiaq Urmar, Advisor to CM on Energy Hamayatullah, Principal Secretary to CM Shahab Ali Shah, Secretary Agriculture Muhammad Israr, Secretary Irrigation, Chief Engineer Irrigation, Project Director Gomal Zam Dam Muhammad Zubair and others.
The meeting was briefed in detail on Gomal Zam Dam Command Area Development Program and the progress made so far. The meeting was informed that total cost of the project is Rs.3337.6 million out of which foreign assistance is Rs.2200.8 million while share of the provincial government is 489.51 million in cash and 221.4 million in kind.
Similarly, the share of farmer is 462.48 million. It was further told that with the completion of GZD project will add approximately two lakh cultivable additional land. The project will also save Rs 80 million annually by reducing flood losses. GZD having the capacity to generate 17.4 Mega Watt of electricity.
The meeting was further informed that GZD has been established in Kajuri Kach area of South Wazirstan and river Gomal and Zoab are the main sources of this project. The height of the dam is 437 feet while the main canal is 60 Km long and length of all the distributaries 369 Km. Total storage capacity of the dam is around 11,40,000 acre feet.
Similarly, the Command Area is near to two lakh acres which includes 28,000 acre command area of Waran Canal. The meeting was informed that in the revise PC-1, the number of water courses has been increase to 462 out of which 105 water courses have already been completed while 75% of construction work on the remaining has been done.
The meeting was also briefed on various MoUs regarding increased productivity of agriculture and livestock. It was told that production capacity in agriculture sector and livestock have been also increased by breeding and vaccination in District D.I.Khan, Kulachi and Tank.
The meeting was told that Rs 3373.6 million have been earmarked for PC-1 of the project out of which Rs.783.94 million was released in which 694.01 million has been utilized.
The meeting was informed that development of water courses and command area of Gomal Zam Dam would significantly reduce flood losses. It was further told that under the GZD Command Area Development Program will unlock the potential of GZD irrigation System.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Rapid Completion of GZD Command Area Development Program will be made possible which will further improve the capacity of Agriculture and livestock productivity in the province and will make the province largest producer of agriculture product.
