Business

Water supply: Conservation key to avoiding scarcity, urges Asif

WAPDA to create awareness among masses.

Shahram Haq March 30, 2015

“It costs $2 billion to build power houses to generate 1,500 megawatts of electricity, but if markets are closed on time, we can easily save this 1,500MW,” said Khawaja Asif. PHOTO: REUTERS

LAHORE: The culture of water conservation should be strictly adopted to avoid scarcity of the vital resource in the country, suggested Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

The same should be applied to electricity consumption, he said while speaking at a seminar organised by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) on the World Water Day on Monday.

“It costs $2 billion to build power houses to generate 1,500 megawatts of electricity, but if markets are closed on time, we can easily save this 1,500MW,” he remarked.

Responding to a query, he said the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project would be completed within the set timeframe.

Apart from this, bids for the construction of Kurram Tangi dam have been opened and a detailed engineering design of multi-purpose Mohmand Dam is being prepared.

“But what if all the projects are completed and there is no water to fill them?” he asked.

“The management recovery cost of our irrigation system stands at 20% only, while the rest of the expenditure to run the system is borne by the government.”

Water pumped through tube wells costs Rs3,000, but it is provided to the farmers for just Rs85. “Since there is no incentive, there is no conservation of water and it goes to waste,” he said.

Wapda chairman pointed out that per capita water availability in the country had dropped 80% since 1951 due to rapid growth in population and depleting water storage capacity of reservoirs because of sedimentation.

He emphasised the need of water conservation including the lining of canals. Wapda will vigorously pursue the aim of creating awareness of the benefits of water conservation as part of its corporate social responsibility.

“The country will face a lot of problems if the required steps are not taken for water conservation,” he cautioned.

He said Wapda and the Ministry of Water and Power were working on an innovative plan to arrange finances for the construction of Diamer Bhasha dam and the proposal would soon be submitted to the prime minister for approval.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2015.

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COMMENTS (1)

MM HUSSAIN | 9 years ago | Reply How Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project will be completed on time as project’s timely completion need funds and not wishful thinking? Phase-I of this project has already been delayed by one year i.e. December 2016 instead of December 2015. Suppliers of this project are facing financial death due to non-payment by both Governments since 3 years. Moreover, government’s wrong priorities based on self-interest is forcing them to invest heavily in METRO like Projects and coal project as Nanadi Pur to produce costly electricity i.e. Rs 24-36 per unit against Rs 2.5 per unit from Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower project. Is making the nation fool by hiding facts is a pride for the federal government?

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