PESHAWAR: Arshad Ayub Khan, the Provincial Minister for Irrigation, stated on Wednesday that the construction of housing colonies on agricultural land would be prohibited.
These directives were issued while presiding over a review meeting on ongoing small dam projects attended by Secretary Irrigation Muhammad Ayaz, Additional Secretary Nawaz Khan, Director General Small Dams Sahibzada Shabbir, and other relevant officials.
The minister also stated that the construction of housing colonies on agricultural lands would be discouraged at every level as it has posed a risk to food security.
Besides, he claimed that building small dams would raise underground water levels and help agriculture by increasing underground water storage.
The Provincial Irrigation Minister was also briefed on projects currently underway under the supervision of the Small Dams Directorate.
Discouraging the development of housing colonies on agricultural lands is an important issue, as it can have negative impacts on food security, the environment, and local communities. Here are some steps that can be taken to discourage such development:
1. Land-use planning: Governments can develop land-use plans that prioritize the protection of agricultural lands and restrict the development of housing colonies on these lands.
2. Zoning regulations: Zoning regulations can be put in place to restrict the use of agricultural lands for non-agricultural purposes, including housing development.
3. Agricultural conservation easements: Governments can work with landowners to establish agricultural conservation easements, which are legal agreements that restrict the use of the land to agricultural purposes.
4. Incentives for farmers: Governments can provide incentives to farmers to keep their land in agricultural production, such as tax breaks, subsidies, or technical assistance.
5. Public awareness campaigns: Public awareness campaigns can be launched to educate the public about the importance of protecting agricultural lands and the negative impacts of housing development on these lands.
6. Enforcement of regulations: Governments can strengthen enforcement of existing regulations that prohibit the development of housing colonies on agricultural lands.
It is important to note that these steps may not completely prevent the development of housing colonies on agricultural lands, but they can help to discourage it and promote the protection of these important resources.