ISLAMABAD, June 11: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has directed the ministry of water and power, particularly Wapda, to raise the height of Mangla Dam by 40 feet as early as possible to remove the growing shortage of water.

The president was briefed recently about the progress on the Mangla Dam Raising Project which would have an additional storage capacity of 3.72MAF, according to official sources.

The project cost has been estimated at Rs53 billion, including the resettlement cost of Rs20 billion. It will be completed in four years.

The objective is to regain the dam’s reservoir capacity which has been lost to sedimentation and to make provision for meeting such loss in future. On completion, the project will also maximize conservation of flood discharges and thereby enhance irrigation releases.

The president was informed that the major component of the work would comprise about 58 million cubic yards of earth-fill to raise the embankment which is about 40 per cent of the original fill quantities. Also, there will be concrete work on the two spillways to be carried out in dry season without jeopardizing their functioning in wet season.

The president was informed that Rs16.875 million had been spent on the project till March 31.