Wapda to build 32 dams

Lahore: The Wapda and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has planned to construct 32 small and medium dams in all four provinces of the country in addition to implementing mega projects in water and hydropower sectors. WAPDA Adviser on Diamer-Basha Dam project Dr Izhar-ul-Haq, in a briefing to a SAARC Energy Centre delegation at the WAPDA House, said the construction of eight small and medium dams, two in each province, would be undertaken in the first phase.

These included Hingol and Naulong dams in Balochistan, Nai Gaj and Khadeji dams in Sindh, Bara and Chudwan Zam dams in NWFP and Ghabir Dam and Dera Ghazi Khan hill torrents in Punjab. These dams had been planned to tap the local water and power resources, he added.

The WAPDA adviser told the delegation the Authority was constructing five hydropower projects under ‘Vision 2025’. Four of them with accumulative power generation capacity of 323 megawatts would come on line in 2010 and 2011, while the 969MW Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric project would be completed in 2016, he added. Earlier, WAPDA member (finance) said WAPDA was fully focused on optimal utilisation of water and power resources for sustainable economic growth in the country.

SAARC Energy Centre programme’s leader on technology transfer Dr M Pervaiz said the centre was meant for fostering cooperation in the energy sector among SAARC members. He said Pakistan might have access to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) funds due to its hydropower potential.