KABUL - President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has said work on key infrastructure projects including construction of water dams will start in accordance with the available resources.
During a meeting of the National Procurement Commission (NPC), President Ghani reviewed a report by the Ministry of Energy and Water regarding the construction of 29 large, medium and small water dams.
President Ghani said necessary measures will be put in place for the start of key infrastructure projects, considering a balance and the available resources.
The Ministry of Finance was given the task to take necessary steps for the arrangement of funds for the said projects while the Ministry of Energy and Water was instructed to seek ways in attracting private sector investments as well for the implementation of the projects.
Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah said the projects should be started without any delay, noting the prioritization of the projects in consideration with the available resources.
This comes President Ghani said last month that the government is expected to start work on the construction of 21 water dams in the near future amid efforts to boost the agriculture sector of the country which is largely dependent on foreign exports.
The International Community has played a vital role in the reconstruction of key infrastructure projects in the country in the last one decade, with the United States and India, playing a key role in reconstruction of dams in the country since the fall of the Taliban regime.
The Indian cabinet last year approved the reconstruction and completion of Salma dam at a revised cost of INR 1,775.69 crore which is equivalent to around $268,050,296.
Built on Harirod river, the dam is expected to produce 42 megawatt of electricity and will irrigate around 75,000 hectares of agricultural land. (KP)