*RAWALPINDI: The Directorate of Soil Conservation Punjab Rawalpindi Regionsays it has constructed 102 mini dams in Potohar Region during last twoyears with 201 water ponds, 39 water storage tanks, 148 gabion spur and 28earthen embankments.*

Director Soil Conservation Department Malik Ghulam Akbar, in an interviewwith the state-run wire service, informed that total1504 structuresincluding 337 Gully Plugging, 353 Water Disposal Outlets and 298 RetainingWalls were constructed in the region during last two financial years,2016-17 and 2017-18.

Nearly 80 per cent subsidy was given to the farmers for the construction ofall these schemes, he added.

The mini dams were constructed under ‘Punjab Kissan Package’ and normalprogramme run by the Soil Conservation Department.

Due to the water reservoirs and soil erosion controlling structures nearly32,190acres land was made cultivable in the region, he informed.

“The construction of the mini dams and water ponds has also developedpositive environmental effects.