Work on Paktika’s Palto Dam kicks off

SHARANA (Pajhwok): Work on the Palto Dam in Sharana, the capital of south eastern Paktika province, kicked off on Monday, an official said.

Khan Mohammad Takal, head of the Water Management Authority, told a gathering marking the work inauguration, that the dam would be completed in three years at a cost of 17.5 million afghanis.

He said the 30 metres high Palto Dam would irrigate 2,500 hectares of land in the province.

Abdul Habib Zadran, assistant finance minister, said the government wanted to control water resources of the country through construction of dams.

“We plan to construct health centres, schools and other infrastructure projects in Paktika next year,” he said.

Shamim Katawazai, head of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, termed the construction of Palto Dam an important step and added the water reservoir would help farmers water their lands.

nah/ma