LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved the construction of 800 new mini dams across the rain-fed Potohar region over the next three years as part of a comprehensive strategy to conserve water, recharge groundwater, and strengthen agricultural resilience.
The decision was taken during a high-level meeting on agricultural transformation and water management chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
According to officials, the new mini dams will have a combined water storage capacity of 32,000 acre-feet, significantly enhancing rainwater harvesting in the region. The meeting was informed that 110 mini dams have already been completed, and photographic evidence of the completed projects was presented.
The chief minister was also briefed on the progress of newly constructed mini dams in Attock, Talagang, Gujar Khan, and Rawalpindi. She directed the relevant departments to prioritize the development of modern and secure surface water reservoirs for rainwater storage and prepare a comprehensive implementation plan.
“A wise nation is one that protects every single drop of water,” Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said while reviewing the province’s water conservation and groundwater management strategy.
The meeting also approved measures to strengthen Punjab’s legal framework for groundwater management and decided to recruit specialized staff to improve water conservation, monitoring, and regulation. The Agriculture, Irrigation, Housing, and Local Government departments were directed to formulate and implement a coordinated provincial water conservation strategy.
To promote efficient water use in agriculture, the provincial government will provide 1,000 new laser land levelers to farmers at a 50 percent subsidy during the current fiscal year.
Officials informed the meeting that the lining of 2,600 watercourses, covering approximately 7,000 kilometers, has already been completed across Punjab, resulting in an estimated 20 percent reduction in water losses. Over the next three years, another 4,500 watercourses, spanning around 11,500 kilometers, will be lined and upgraded.
The meeting was further informed that 100 groundwater recharge wells are operational in the Lahore, Gujranwala, and Gujrat divisions, while work on an additional 300 recharge wells is nearing completion.
The overall availability of fertilizer and the agricultural sector’s input requirements were also reviewed during the meeting.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed all relevant departments to ensure the timely completion of water conservation initiatives and agricultural development projects to improve water security, increase farm productivity, and support sustainable economic growth across Punjab.
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