Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has planned to conduct a management study for Tarbela Dam Project to tackle the issue of decreasing water storage capacity in the reservoir due to the natural phenomenon of sedimentation. Besides exploring ways and means to flush sediments out of the reservoir, the study also aims at determining its impact on the downstream irrigation infrastructure.
World Bank is providing funds required for the study through its Water Sector Capacity Building and Advisory Services Project (WCAP). In response to the Expression of Interest (EoI), Wapda has short-listed five joint ventures comprising consulting firms of international repute, which will soon be asked to submit their technical and financial proposals in this regard.
Tarbela Dam Project, an engineering marvel built in 1974, is considered to be the lifeline for national economy. Tarbela Lake spreads over an area of 259 square kilometers, with maximum elevation of 1550 feet above mean sea level.
Average annual water inflows at Tarbela is 64 million acre feet (MAF), which brings along a huge quantum of sediments estimated at 200 million tons per year from a catchment area of more than 169,000 square kilometres. These sediments have not only decreased the storage capacity of the reservoir, but are also posing a serious threat to the powerhouse structures, machines etc. It is pertinent to mention here that the live storage capacity of Tarbela Lake has gone down to 6.77 MAF in 2010 from its original storage capacity of 9.68 MAF, recording 30 percent decrease during the last 36 years.
Comments
Comments are closed.