HEC instructs listed institutes to divert one-day salaries towards the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund
PHOTO: EXPRESS
This was stated by Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Lt General (retd) Muzammil Hussain as he visited the dam site in Pandyali tehsil of Mohmand on Tuesday.
During the visit, Lt Gen Hussain stated that the dam was of immense importance to the public. He added that once complete, the dam will store around 1.2 million acre-feet (MAF) of water to irrigate agricultural lands, help mitigate floods downstream in Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera apart from generating 800 MW of clean energy.
During his visit, Lt Gen Hussain noted that in light of the judgment by the Supreme Court on expediting work on the dam, they were considering a number of different options so that construction work starts in the fiscal year 2018-19.
He further disclosed that Wapda had already completed a feasibility study of the dam, drawing up detailed engineering designs of the project and completing the tender documents for the purpose.
The Wapda chief further said that once work starts on the project, it is expected to be completed within five years and eight months.
According to a statement issued by Wapda, Lt Gen Hussain also met with local elders at the project site. Thanking them for being supportive in the wake of SC’s decision for construction of the dam, he discussed the details of the land acquisition process.
“The chairman apprised the notables of the land acquisition process and resettlement of affected people in the project area,” the statement read.
The Wapda chairman assured locals that the utility provider will pay the appropriate compensation to locals in lieu of their land and assets which would be used to build the dam.
Apart from acquiring land, Wapda would also develop infrastructure, health and education facilities and drinking water schemes in the area by employing various confidence-building measures as part of its corporate social responsibility endeavours.
He assured the notables of the area that the project will bring positive changes in the lives of the local populace.
“He also listened to their views relating to land acquisition, resettlement and development scheme in the area,” the statement added.
Later, the Wapda chairman also visited the site of the Warsak dam to review progress on the second rehabilitation project of the Warsak Hydel Power Station.
During the briefing, Lt Gen Hussain was told that the project was aimed at regaining the lost generation capacity at the ageing power station and to achieve reliable annual energy generation of 1.14 billion units per annum and increasing useful life of the powerhouse by another 30 to 40 years.
The project is expected to be completed in a phased manner in about seven years.
Mohmand Deputy Commissioner Wasif Saeed later said that the visit was “encouraging for the locals”.
He added that the Wapda chairman had expressed his commitment to ensuring that “locals shall be the first to benefit from this mega project.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2018.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ