Mohmand dam’s diversion tunnels advance

Significant progress is being made on the upper stilling basin of the spillway and construction activities at the left and right abutments of the Mohmand Dam, as well as various components of the diversion system, including the diversion tunnels, in preparation for the upcoming low-flow season.

Wapda officials have issued directives to the contractor to ensure the completion of the diversion system within the upcoming low-flow season to effectively redirect the flow of the River Swat.

The Mohmand Dam Project, situated across the River Swat in the Mohmand district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, is a monumental endeavor.

It stands as the fifth-highest concrete-face-rock-fill dam globally. This ambitious project serves multiple essential purposes, including water storage for agricultural needs, flood control measures, the supply of urban water to Peshawar, the generation of environmentally friendly and economically viable hydropower, and is expected to reach completion by 2026-27.

With a remarkable gross water storage capacity of 1.29 million acre-feet (MAF), the dam will facilitate the irrigation of 18,233 acres of new land in Mohmand and Charsadda. Additionally, it will bolster irrigation supplies for 160,000 acres of existing land.

The installed power capacity of the project is an impressive 800 megawatts, with an annual energy generation of 2.86 billion units. Furthermore, the project will provide Peshawar with a daily supply of 300 million gallons of clean drinking water, addressing the city's vital water needs.