LAHORE, Sept 26: Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority has doubled its efforts to further accelerate the pace of development work on water sector projects to cater to the needs of increasing population and depleting capacity of reservoirs.

Wapda Chairman Tariq Hamid said this on Monday while presiding over a meeting held to review water sector projects.

The chairman asked the officers concerned to redouble their efforts to finish all the projects in time and with in the allocated funds.

The meeting was informed that work was under way on hydropower projects, including Khan and Allai Khawar. The 37-kilometres-long access road from Tha Kot to Banna would be completed by November this year, it was told.

Excavation work on two diversion tunnels as well as steel-lined power tunnel of Khan Khawar hydropower project was in progress. Whereas, work order for Duber Khawar hydropower, the third of such projects, would soon be issued and physical work would be undertaken forthwith, it was further told.

The projects, being executed under the National Water Resources and Hydropower Development — Vision 2025 Programme — on fast track basis, were reviewed at the meeting. The projects include raising of the Mangla Dam, Gomal Zam, Mirani, Sabakzai, Satpara and Kurran Tangi dam, Rainee, Kachi and Greater Thal Canals.