Six irrigation dams will be built in five Iraqi cities, the Ministry of Water Resources announced Thursday (August 30th).

"The new dams are located in Kirkuk, Anbar, Diyala, Wasit and Maysan, which will feature two dams," Water Resources Minister Muhannad al-Saadi told Al-Shorfa.

"Ministry engineers and private companies that specialise in building dams are currently supervising the work," he said.

The intent behind the construction of these dams is to "benefit from storing rain and flood water, regulate ideal water distribution according to each province's needs for agriculture and human consumption, develop animal wealth and tourist investment, improve the environment and feed groundwater levels," he said.

Al-Saadi said it will cost an estimated 11 billion Iraqi dinars ($9.4 million) to build each dam.