Sindh government has decided to launch major projects for rainwater storage, with an aim to ward off the threat of floods in Thatta, it emerged on Thursday.
The mega projects will be initiated in collaboration with World Bank to deal with the affects of flooding in the coastal district.
Two small dams would be constructed in the Kohistani belt of Thatta while the Ochto outfall drain will be transformed into a small dam.
Reliable sources in the Chief Minister's House revealed that the dams will be used for storing rain and floodwater, which will be later used for cultivation of farmland located in the district's far-flung areas.
Another project aimed at enhancing the Haleji and Hudero lakes has also been planned for the remote district of Sindh, with the prime purpose of increasing the capacity of both the lakes, and cater to the needs of Karachi.
Additionally, it is hoped that the project will be pivotal for the agricultural sector of the district.
The project – worth Rs2 billion – has been formulated with the coordination of the Asian Development Bank which also includes water supply schemes for the remote areas of Thatta.
Read this too: Eight Villages Submerge Under Sea Water in Thatta
Meanwhile, PPP MPA Ali Hassan Zardari told this correspondent that he is in contact with the officials concerned of the irrigation and coastal highway for the timely commencement of the projects.
He added that the projects that begun during the incumbent government's tenure were nearing their conclusion, hoping they would help resolve the water scarcity issue in the district.
Nearly a month ago, several villages near the Gharo area of Thatta came under seawater after a sudden surge in the tides.
Moderate to heavy rainfall in the coastal areas induced the waves, inundating the villages located some 60 kilometres from the district.
In February too, the waves caused havoc in coastal areas of Thatta when seawater inundated around 10 villages of Bagar and Keti Bunder area.
The waves broke splintered protective dykes near the areas, followed by water entering farmlands and villages located along the coastline.
The mega projects will be initiated in collaboration with World Bank to deal with the affects of flooding in the coastal district.
Two small dams would be constructed in the Kohistani belt of Thatta while the Ochto outfall drain will be transformed into a small dam.
Reliable sources in the Chief Minister's House revealed that the dams will be used for storing rain and floodwater, which will be later used for cultivation of farmland located in the district's far-flung areas.
Another project aimed at enhancing the Haleji and Hudero lakes has also been planned for the remote district of Sindh, with the prime purpose of increasing the capacity of both the lakes, and cater to the needs of Karachi.
Additionally, it is hoped that the project will be pivotal for the agricultural sector of the district.
The project – worth Rs2 billion – has been formulated with the coordination of the Asian Development Bank which also includes water supply schemes for the remote areas of Thatta.
Read this too: Eight Villages Submerge Under Sea Water in Thatta
Meanwhile, PPP MPA Ali Hassan Zardari told this correspondent that he is in contact with the officials concerned of the irrigation and coastal highway for the timely commencement of the projects.
He added that the projects that begun during the incumbent government's tenure were nearing their conclusion, hoping they would help resolve the water scarcity issue in the district.
Nearly a month ago, several villages near the Gharo area of Thatta came under seawater after a sudden surge in the tides.
Moderate to heavy rainfall in the coastal areas induced the waves, inundating the villages located some 60 kilometres from the district.
In February too, the waves caused havoc in coastal areas of Thatta when seawater inundated around 10 villages of Bagar and Keti Bunder area.
The waves broke splintered protective dykes near the areas, followed by water entering farmlands and villages located along the coastline.