ISLAMABAD: The federal government is providing funds for the construction of 60 small, medium, large and recharge dam projects in the country through Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) aimed at providing water for irrigation and drinking purposes.
According to sources privy to the information, the accumulative live storage capacity of these dams was about 8,683,699 acre-feet whereas as many as 17 dams’ projects were likely to be completed during the current fiscal year (FY).
Some of the projects include small dams in Tehsil Dobandi, Gulistan Killa, Bhundaro storage dam, Dosi dam Pasni, Darah dam Khuzadar, Mangi dam Quetta, Mara Tangi dam Loralai, Tuk dam Tehsil Wadh, Anjeeri dam Nushko, Azdhakhoi dam, Baghi dam Naushki, delay actions dams in Siaro Hazar Ganji Nal, a small dam at Sardari Goz Darkhalo, small dam Kunji Ferzabad, and Sukleji dam etc.
Work on other projects including Mohmad, Diamer Basha, Kurram Tangi, Nai Gaj and Naulong dams was also being carried out.
Sources said it was a fact that per capita water availability in Pakistan which in 1951 was 5,260 m3 per annum, was constantly decreasing and at present had reduced to less than 1,000 m3 per annum per capita due to an ever-increasing population.
They said that WAPDA has prepared a comprehensive plan to address water scarcity issue by storing floodwater during high flow season and utilise the same during the lean season.
In last decade, WAPDA completed Mangla Dam Raising (2.88 MAF), Gomal Zam Dam (0.892 MAF), Satpara Dam (0.053 MAF) and Darawat Dam (0.089 MAF) for water storage.
Now, the authority was also planning to construct Kurram Tangi Dam Stage-II (0.90 MAF), Chiniot Dam (0.85 MAF), Shyok Dam (5.0 MAF), Akhori Dam (6.0 MAF), Dudhnial Dam (1.00 MAF), Skardu Dam (3.20 MAF) and Sindh Barrage (2.00 MAF) to cope with the issues of water shortage in the country.
why govet always depends on foreign companies to construct dams in pakistan. construction of dams includes detail study and feasibility , construction of main dam which required 95% civil work if it is only dam and 80 civil work if hydal power project is part of project. Civil work can be carried out by Pakistanis companies however for electromechanical equipment pakistan at the moment doesn’t have facilities to design and manufacture, so govet should think about it and we should start manufacturing hydal turbine and generator within pakistan. buying an equipment may not cost more but operating an equipment for 50 years and then buying after sales service cost more than capital cost. I request goevt to start thinking about made in pakistan concepet in every field.