WAPDA Chairman Expresses Resolve To Build Large Water Reservoirs

Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) General (Retd.) Muzammil Friday expressed firm resolve of the government to build the much-needed large water reservoirs aimed at meeting depleting resources and shortage.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Oct, 2018 ) :Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) General (Retd.) Muzammil Friday expressed firm resolve of the government to build the much-needed large water reservoirs aimed at meeting depleting resources and shortage.

The government is fully committed to construct much-needed Diamer Basha and Mohmad dams, he said addressing a two-day international symposium titled�"Creating a water secure Pakistan." "Chief Justice's intervention at this critical juncture for timely and urgent commencement of Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dam projects is a turning point in our water history wherein equally focused and committed Federal government support is the dawn of a new era." He said Diamer�Basha Dam site was located across Indus River Near Chilas (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa & Gilgit- Baltistan), 315 km u/s from Tarbela Dam and about 40 Km downstream of Chilas Town.

The dam of 272 meter height will provide a reservoir with live storage of 6.4 MAF water, which will be utilized for supplementing the irrigation water to Indus Basin and hydropower generation of 18,097 GWh per annum with the help of hydropower plant with installed capacity of 4500 MW.

The chairman said Mohmand Dam site is proposed to be constructed on Swat River about 5 km upstream (u/s) of Munda Head Works in tribal district, Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The dam of 213 meter height will provide a reservoir with live storage of 0.676 MAF which will be utilized for irrigation of new command area of 16,737 acres, water supply to Peshawar, hydropower generation of 2,864 GWh per annum with installed capacity of 800 MW besides mitigating floods in Peshawar valley, he added.

He said "WAPDA stands out as an organization which represents the best option for sustainable development of water infrastructure and to ensure that the process of development continues unabated.

" The chairman said "WAPDA's experience in implementing multipurpose mega hydel project, gives it a clear advantage as the only formidable entity which can steer the country out of impending water threat keeping in mind the rich experience, professionalism and institutional mechanism. " He said soon after the independence of the country, Pakistani engineers with support of international experts achieved the marvels of two largest dams of that time, five barrages, seven link canals and second largest grid station of Asia after Japan.

"Pakistan has been degraded from water abundant country to scarce country in view of massive population growth, insufficient water storage and poor management mechanism," he added.

He said minimum storage of fresh water of only ten percent of 145 MAF (million acre feet) and only 30 day's carryover capacity much lower than the world average makes it a water insecure country.

He said ground water is now being over exploited in many areas and quality is deteriorating, which is leading to a large percentage of salt water.

"Large part of Pakistan has good soil, abundant sunshine and able farmers yet crop yields are much lower. The quality of water service and irrigation practices play major role, this must improve phenomenally," he added.

Dr Ijaz |Hussain, Khalid Mohtadullah, Feisal Naqvi, Dr Parveiz Hassan, John Ruple, Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Mehr Ali Shah, Chairman IRSA Sher Zaman Khan, Rafay Alam and Zaigham Habib spoke also on the occasion.