LAHORE: Chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain has said that work on two important hydroelectric projects will start during this fiscal year.

“Construction work on Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams will start in the fiscal year 2018-19. Diamer-Bhasha project will have a gross water storage capacity of 8.1 million-acre feet (MAF) and power generation capacity of 4500MW. Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project will store 1.2 MAF water and generate 800MW electricity,” he said while giving a briefing to the caretaker federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Ali Zafar who visited Wapda House on Tuesday.

The Wapda chief termed both projects vital to attaining water and energy security in the country. All stakeholders should play their due role in initiation and timely completion of these projects, he said. The 1,410MW project for Tarbela’s fifth extension, 2,160MW Stage II project of Dasu dam, 7,100MW Bunji dam and the second phase of multipurpose Kurram Tangi dam were among the ready-for-construction projects, he said.

Dilating upon the efforts made by Wapda to cope with the increasing need for water and electricity, Mr Hussain said the authority succeeded in completing four mega projects since August 2017, to irrigate 72,000 acres of barren land in Dera Bugti, Balochistan, and add 2,487MW of electricity to the national grid.

“These projects included Phase 1 of Kachhi Canal, Golen Gol, Tarbela 4th Extension and Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the water minister expressed satisfaction over the measures being taken by Wapda to implement its projects in water and hydropower sectors. He was of the view that concerted efforts were required both at the federal and provincial levels to steer the country out of the impending water crisis.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2018