PESHAWAR: The sports, tourism and archeology department has planned to take over around 540 kanals of land in the vicinity of at least five dams to develop picnic spots.

An official document shows that the tourism secretary has formally asked the irrigation department to transfer around 220 kanals of lands located close to dams and lakes in three districts of the province, while the remaining land will be acquired through the imposition of Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act.

It said the tourism department had envisioned an initiative to develop land around small dams from the tourism perspective for increasing the people’s knowledge of water reservoirs and turning the places near dams into picnic places.

The document said the process to make lands next to five dams in Haripur, Kohat, Swabi, Nowshera and Abbottabad into picnic spots had been set in motion.

The tourism department plans to transfer a total of 100 kanals of land near Chatri dam in Haripur district to develop a picnic spot.

Tourism dept seeks handover of 540 kanals of land for the purpose

Around 50 kanals of the land was owned by the irrigation department, which it has transferred to tourism department, while Section 4 has been imposed for the acquisition of the rest.

The department has also identified around 100 kanals of land at the site of Tanda dam in Kohat district.

That stretch of land was owned by the irrigation department, while 70 kanals of land at the site of Knudal dam in Swabi was also owned by the irrigation department.

Around 150 kanals of land was available next to Jalozai dam in Nowshera district. As it is a private land holding, the relevant deputy commissioner has been asked to impose Section 4 of the law to purchase it.

Around 120 kanals of privately-owned land is available next to Jhangra dam in Abbottabad and the department has decided to purchase it.

The tourism department has asked the irrigation department to transfer 220 kanals of its land located next to dams in Kohat, Haripur and Swabi for development of tourist spots.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2020