ISLAMABAD: The Winder Dam would bring almost 10,000 acres of arid land in Balochistan under cultivation to improve food security by enhancing agricultural productivity under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, WealthPK reports.
According to official sources, the completion of the dam will bring a green revolution in the water-scarce region of Balochistan. The government is utilising all available resources for the economic and social development of Balochistan under a comprehensive strategy to promote the agriculture sector.
They said that the dam, after completion, would irrigate 10,000 acres of land in Winder and its adjoining areas. The dam would have a water storage capacity of 54,000-acre-feet.
“The construction of Winder Dam, after Hub Dam, is considered an important step towards the development of the agriculture sector in the province. The government has expedited the pace of work on the dam to complete it within the stipulated timeframe. Work on the dam was inaugurated in the fiscal year 2019-20,” said Engineer Ahmad Farooq, deputy director of the project.
He said that after proper purification and treatment, the water from the dam would be supplied to households for human consumption. The storage of water in the dam and its seepage will help to raise the level of groundwater.
Winder Dam is a small, low-head, earth core rockfill, hydropower project that will generate 0.3 megawatts of electricity after completion. The dam will be completed in 2025 at a cost of Rs15,230.76 million. It is located at a distance of 125 kilometres from Karachi, 66 kilometres from Uthal and 25 kilometres from Winder Town in the Lasbela district of Balochistan.
“The development and management of water resources are imperative for sustainable development of the agriculture sector in water-scarce areas. The construction of the dam will bring a change in the cropping patterns. It will help farmers to grow high valued crops and increase the yield,” said an official.
He said that the development of an area and management of water resources are linked with each other. Without proper management, the water resource might be lost and the crop productivity and socio-economic development of the area could be affected.
“The conventional methods of irrigation are still predominant. If water is properly managed and used, more areas could be irrigated with existing infrastructure and facilities,” he said.
Talking about the impacts of CPEC projects on Balochistan, the official said that those schemes are transforming the province. “CPEC projects are meant to improve the living standards of the people. The construction of this dam is an important step in this regard,” he said.
He said that setting up multipurpose dams is vital for the development of the country. The government has decided to construct more dams to store a huge quantity of water and utilise the same whenever the need arises.
