LAHORE: In a major development for harnessing scarce water resources in south Punjab, the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) awarded on Friday a Rs156.226 million consultancy contract to a joint venture, headed by Nespak, for feasibility study, detailed engineering design, preparation of tender documents and PC-I of Murunj Dam Project that will be executed in Rajanpur district of south Punjab.

Wapda General Manager (Hydro Planning) Muhammad Amin and Nespak General Manger (Water and Agriculture) Javed Munirsigned the agreement on behalf of their organizations in a ceremony.

Murunj Dam Project will be constructed across Kaha Nullah, about 15 kilometer (km) from Mari village and 116 km west of Rajanpur.Kaha Nullah is one of the largest hill torrents of the Koh-i-Sulaiman Range located in the vicinity of Rajanpur with average annual inflows of 183,000 acre feet. The available water resources are very scarce in Rajanpur and adjoining areas facing acute shortage of fresh water for drinking and agriculture.

The project has three main objectives: storage of water for irrigated agriculture and drinking purpose, flood mitigation and power generation.

“It will have gross water storage of 800,000 acre feet,” said a spokesman for Wapda in a press release.

The annual monsoon rains give rise to flashy hill torrents causing inundation of thousands of acres of land in the adjoining foothills and rendering damages to public property and cultivated land each year.

The project will generate 12 megawatt (MW) cheap and environmental-friendly electricity.It is unique in nature for southern Punjab and will help alleviate poverty from the remote and backward region.

It will change existing economic indicators and uplift the living standard of the people.

“The project will have tangible benefits and bring about120,000 acres into irrigable, ground water recharging, and fisheries development. Implementation of project will have significant positive impact and uplift of local economy,” the spokesman said.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2020