July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

LAHORE, July 16: Wapda Chairman Tariq Hamid says Sabakzai Dam is nearing completion and will be inaugurated by the end of this month. After presiding over a meeting held here on Monday to review the progress on various projects, the Wapda chief said the project would not only boost the agriculture sector in Balochistan, but also help control floods.

The project was being completed under the National Water and Hydropower Development Programme ‘Vision 2029’.

He said work was in progress on the Mangla Dam Raising Project as well, and would be completed by April next year. After raising, the dam would have an enhanced capacity to store an additional 2.9 million acre feet of water. The additional storage would increase the power generation capacity by 150MW, he said.

The meeting also reviewed progress on other projects, including Diamir-Basha, Akhori, Kurram Tangi, Gomal Zam and Sadpara dams, Greater Thal, Rainee and Kachhi canals, Neelum-Jhelum, Khan, Alai, Dubar and Keyal Khwar, Bunji, Dasu, Kohala and Golen Gol hydropower projects and Right Bank Outfall Drain-I and III.

The Wapda chief expressed satisfaction over 100 per cent utilisation of funds allocated for the Public Sector Development Programme for various water sector projects.

Referring to heavy rains and floods in Makran region, particularly in Turbat, he said the Mirani Dam was safe and had not been damaged.