The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has expedited work on 8 mega projects with a combined power generation capacity of more than 10,000 megawatt (MW) and gross water storage capacity of 10.6 million acre feet (MAF).
Once completed, these projects will play a significant role in meeting the increased demand for water and electricity in the country.
This was stated by the WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain at a consultative seminar at WAPDA House on Monday. The consultative seminar was scheduled to discuss WAPDA’s role in the timely completion of the projects and the role of the projects in meeting the increased demand for electricity generation. The seminar was attended by WAPDA’s former chairmen Lt Gen (r) Zahid Ali Akbar and many other currently enrolled members of WAPDA including general managers.
WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (r) Muzammil Hussain while discussing the development of ongoing projects stated that a three-pronged strategy had been formulated which focuses on the completion of under-construction projects on an urgent basis, starting construction work on ready-for-construction projects as early as possible and improving the overall image of WAPDA.
The strategy has been implemented for the last seven months with 3 hydropower projects – Neelum Jhelum, Tarbela 4th Extension and Golen Gol with electricity generation capacity of 2485 MW in total are scheduled to be completed between end 2017 to mid 2018. In addition, Phase I of Kachhi Canal will be completed in parts in August– December 2017 which will facilitate irrigation of 72,000 acres of land. Moreover, construction work on Kurram Tangi Dam Multi-purpose Project was started last month. The contractor of Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project has been mobilized at the site to start construction work on the project.
Furthermore, construction work on the Dasu Hydropower Project will kick start next month. In addition, WAPDA is focusing all efforts to award contracts for Mohmand Dam Multi-purpose Project and Diamer Basha Dam Multi-purpose Project by the end of this year, it was informed.
