ISLAMABAD: Briefing Prime Minister Nasir-ul-Mulk on the water and hydropower projects in the country, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Muzammil Hussain said on Monday that the construction work on Diamer-Basha and Mohmand dams will begin during the current fiscal year.

Mr Mulk was informed that the Daimer-Basha dam is located on Indus River, about 315km upstream of Tarbela dam, 165km downstream of Gilgit and 40km downstream of Chilas. The dam has a gross water storage capacity of 8.1 million acre feet of water with power generation capacity of 4500MW.

According to Wapda, evaluation of ‘expression of interest’ documents received last year for six joint ventures from international and national consulting firms were under process. The project is expected to be completed by 2020 at an estimated cost of Rs894,257m, including foreign exchange component of Rs312,943m.

The Mohmand Dam hydropower project will have the capacity to store 1.2m acres feet of water and generate 800MW. It is proposed to be constructed on Swat River about 5km upstream Munda Headworks in Mohmand Agency.

The prime minister was further informed about Wapda’s hydropower projects including the 1410MW Tarbela Fifth Extension, the 2160MW-Stage II of Dasu, the 7100MW-Bunji and the Stage II of multipurpose Kurram Tangi Dam among the ready-for-construction projects.

Dilating upon the efforts made by Wapda to meet the increasing requirements of water and electricity, the chairman said that his organisation completed four mega projects from August 2017 onwards to irrigate 72, 000 acres of virgin land in Dera Bugti, Balochistan and add 2487MW of hydel electricity to the national grid.

These projects included first phase of Kachhi Canal, Golen Gol, Tarbela Fourth Extension and Neelum Jhelum Hydropower project. Stage-I of Kurram Tangi Dam Project will be completed in 2020, while the 2160 MW – Stage II of Dasu Hydropower Project is scheduled to start electricity generation by 2023.

Mr Mulk expressed satisfaction over the measures being taken by Wapda for implementation of its projects.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2018