LAHORE: The Mangla Dam on Tuesday filled to its maximum storage level of 1,242 feet above the sea level.

The dam had been completed in 1967 with a storage capacity of 5.88MAF, which reduced to 4.6MAF due to sedimentation till 2004.

Subsequently, the Mangla Dam Raising Project was initiated in 2004 in view of maximising hydro potential of the Jhelum. The project was completed in December 2009. The dam was raised by 30 feet to increase storage level to 1,242 feet above sea level. “Thus, water storage capacity of the reservoir increased to 7.4 MAF from 4.6 MAF. As a result of the raised dam, the additional 2.88 MAF water can irrigate another 1.314 million acres of land, and generate 644 million additional units of electricity per annum from the existing power station,” reads a statement issued by a Wapda spokesperson.

With completion of the raising project, Mangla has become the biggest reservoir in the country surpassing Tarbela, which has a live storage capacity of 6.45 MAF.

BRIEFING: Federal Secretary for Water and Power Muhammad Younas Dhaga will have a background briefing and interactive session with the energy correspondents at 2:30pm on Wednesday (today) here at Wapda House.

The Wapda chairman, National Transmission and Despatch Company managing director and Lahore Electric Supply Company CEO will also attend the briefing.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2016