2 dams to be opened in Kirkuk next week

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The water resources ministry will open next week two dams in the province of Kirkuk to irrigate 6,000 donums, according to a statement released from the national information center on Friday. “The opening ceremony will be held under the auspice of Minister of Water Resources Abdullatief Jamal Rashied,” an official source said in the statement received by IraqiNews.com news agency. “The purpose of setting up these two dams is to feed the region with the groundwater as well as providing drinking water, livestock breeding and for limited agricultural purposes,” he added. The Shirin dam is located 14 km southwest of Kirkuk. It was established at a cost of 53 billion Iraqi dinars. The second dam (Balkana) lies 22 km southeast of Kirkuk, and was established at a cost of 4.5 billion Iraqi dinars, according to a previous data of the water resources ministry. Kirkuk is 250 km north of Baghdad. SH (P) 1