The government has started implementing the strategy of increasing investment in water projects for the protection of water resources and the acquisition of hydropower

ISLAMABAD: The government has started implementing a comprehensive strategy to conserve water resources, increase water storage capacity and increase investment in water projects to achieve affordable and environment-friendly hydropower, Diamer Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Efforts have been accelerated for the timely completion of the Dasu Hydropower Project and other projects, the completion of the first phase of the K.Four project will provide 260 million gallons of water per day to the citizens of Karachi, and the Tarbela Five Expansion Project to start generating electricity in 2025. By completing 10 water and hydropower projects in Wapda, 11.7 million acre feet of water will be stored and 11,268 megawatts of affordable hydropower will be added to the system.

According to the sources of the Ministry of Water Resources, the current government is taking effective measures to achieve economic development and energy needs along with the construction of new water reservoirs, as well as to obtain low-cost and environment-friendly energy. while Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah and WAPDA officials are also trying to complete the water projects on time and provide financial resources for them.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif visited the Mohmand Dam and personally reviewed the progress of the project. Mohmand Dam is being constructed by Chinese and Pakistani companies together, this is a very important project, it will generate 800 MW of electricity, water will be available for irrigation and help prevent floods, this project will be built on the Swat River. is being done and it will irrigate more than 18 thousand acres of land, the construction of the dam will help in preventing floods. Mohmand dam will have a total water storage capacity of 1.2 million acre feet while the power generation capacity will be 800 MW. This project will be completed in 2026. The project will provide an average of 2.86 billion units of affordable and environment-friendly hydropower to the National Grid every year.

The annual benefits of the project are estimated at 51 billion rupees. The Prime Minister also participated in the inauguration ceremony of the renovation of Mangala dam Unit 5 and 4. This dam has a very important role in our economic development, for its repair, upgrade and refurbishment, USAID has given 150 million dollars and France has provided a loan of 90 million Euros and has also promised to provide 65 million Euros. The $483 million project is the epitome of partnership. WAPDA has also spent a whopping $175 million on this project. Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah visited the Diamer Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam and Tarbela 5th expansion projects and reviewed the progress of the construction work and directed to speed up the work.

He has said that the Ministry of Water Resources will effectively monitor the progress of the projects under construction and full support will be provided to WAPDA for the timely completion of the projects. Tarbela Fifth Expansion Project will have a production capacity of 1,530 megawatts and will start generating electricity from this project in 2024. After the completion of the fifth expansion project, the power generation capacity from Tarbela will increase from 4 thousand 888 MW to 6 thousand 418 MW. The Tarbela Fifth Extension Project will provide the National Grid with 1 billion 34 crore 70 lakh units of affordable hydropower every year. The project will generate benefits equivalent to 15 billion rupees every year.

Tarbela Fifth Expansion Project will start generating electricity in 2024, Mohmand Dam will be completed in 2026. Asian Development Bank has expressed keen interest in financing WAPDA projects. With the efforts of the government and WAPDA authorities, an agreement has been reached between WAPDA, civil administration and the Muttahida Kohistan Jirga consisting of local elders from the three districts of Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan and Kolai Pals Kohistan. The purpose of the agreement is the launch and implementation of various development schemes by WAPDA for the social and economic development of the local population.

The agreement will immediately resume construction work on the long-delayed 132 KV transmission line from Dabir Hydel Power Station to Dasu for continuous and stable power supply during the construction of the Dasu Hydropower Project. In exchange for these development schemes in the three districts of Kohistan, the local people will not obstruct the construction of the said transmission line and will ensure its uninterrupted completion. WAPDA will construct small hydropower projects in each district of Kohistan. The total production capacity of these projects will be 3 MW. WAPDA will also build one high school and one vocational training center in each district.

WAPDA will renovate the High School building in Upper Kohistan at Save. Similarly, payment of dues of electricity consumers residing in the three districts to PEPCO till 31st December 2022, recruitment of local people in class IV jobs, preference of local people in other jobs, compensation to the victims of Debir Khawar transmission line in Patan Seri and Pals Seri. Payment while the household package for the victims of Kyal Khawar and Dasu hydropower projects are also among the important points of the said agreement.

According to the agreement, the local elders will immediately resume construction work on the 132 KV transmission line from Debirkhawar Hydel Power Station to Dasu and ensure that the construction work continues uninterrupted till the completion of the transmission line. The Dasu Hydropower Project with a production capacity of 4,320 MW is under construction on the Indus River in Upper Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This project will be completed in two phases.

Currently, WAPDA is engaged in the construction of its first phase, the first phase has a production capacity of 2,160 MW and will provide an average of 12 billion units of low-cost and environment-friendly electricity to the National Grid every year.
The production capacity of the second phase is also 2 thousand 160 MW and it will provide more 9 billion units of hydropower to the National Grid upon its completion. Along with this, it will become the largest annual unit providing project of Pakistan.

According to sources, work is going on simultaneously at about 10 sites of Dia Mur Bhasha Dam Project. These sites include excavation on both sides for construction of dams, diversion tunnels, diversion canals, power in-take, permanent bridges and construction of roads.

2029 is the target for completion of Diamur Bhasha Dam. The dam will have a total water storage capacity of 8.1 million acre feet, bringing 1.23 million acres of land under cultivation. The project has a power generation capacity of 4,500 MW and will provide an average of 18 billion units of affordable and environment-friendly hydropower to the National Grid every year. Federal Minister for Water Resources Syed Khurshid Ahmad Shah has inaugurated the Thick Hydel Power Station with a production capacity of 3 MW. It is a small hydel power station constructed by WAPDA as part of confidence building measures for Daya Mur Bhasha Dam Project.
This project has cost one billion 30 crore 90 lakh rupees.

The electricity generated from this small hydel power station is enough to meet the needs of about 1,500 to 1,800 homes. A 26 km long transmission line has also been constructed at a cost of Rs 46.9 million to provide electricity from Thick Hydel Power Station to the ideal villages of Chilas and Harpandas. The Federal Government is committed to the development of the local people in the project area. . 78 billion 50 crore rupees are being spent on confidence building measures in the fields of education, health and infrastructure along with depopulation of the victims. Priority is always being given to local people in providing employment at Dia Mur Bhasha Dam Project.

Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme by WAPDA on the special instructions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Three more contracts worth Rs 98 billion 50 crore have been awarded for the construction of the first phase of K4 project. The completion of the first phase of the K4 project will provide 260 million gallons of drinking water per day to the citizens of Karachi. The K4 project is a lifeline for the city of Karachi. This will help to solve the important problem of drinking water supply in the city. of the government. The four project is trying to be completed within the stipulated period. The first phase of the four project will be constructed in Thatta, Malir and Karachi West districts of Sindh.

The PC-1 cost of the project is 126 billion 50 crore rupees. For faster completion the first phase has been divided into eight packages, out of which contracts for two packages have already been awarded, the first phase of four will be completed in October 2023. The government is providing effective financing strategies for under-construction water resources projects and attractive investment opportunities and facilities for international financial institutions. These projects will provide low cost and environmentally friendly electricity for economic and social development as well as abundant water for irrigation and agriculture.

Special attention is being given to timely completion of water projects and effective monitoring of progress on these projects is also being ensured. These projects will be completed in phases from 2022 to 2029 and will strengthen the country’s water, food and energy security.