400 Mini Dams Planned to Beat Drought
Pakistan is facing mounting pressure on its water resources due to erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, rising temperatures, and climate-driven changes in precipitation patterns. To combat this, the government has unveiled a Rs56.8 billion water conservation push featuring:
- 400 lined ponds and mini dams: With a proposed budget of Rs48 billion, these are the flagship projects aimed at capturing rainwater and enhancing storage in drought-prone areas.
- Check dams: Worth Rs6 billion, these structures will slow down rainwater runoff, help contain soil erosion, and improve local water retention (medium-term intervention).
- Tanka development in Sindh: Rs1.2 billion is allocated for the construction of traditional rainwater reservoirs, providing communities with a buffer during dry spells (short-term measure).
- Excavation of open surface wells: Rs1 billion will be spent on expanding access to locally available water resources through these measures (short-term category).
- Karez excavation, lining and cleaning in Balochistan: Rs600 million is proposed for restoring these centuries-old underground water channels (long-term intervention).
The plan combines modern infrastructure with indigenous water harvesting systems: mini dams, lined ponds, check dams, surface wells, tankas, and karezes. This integrated approach allows for immediate water conservation works alongside larger projects requiring longer planning and construction periods.
