Mohmand Dam project likely to be completed in 2026: Wapda chief

LAHORE: Chairman Wapda Engineer Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) has said that Mohmand Dam project likely to be completed in 2026. At present, the construction work is progressing ahead on all 11 sites of the project, day and night on the sites where feasible, he added.

During his visit to under construction Mohmand Dam project, he was briefed that the diversion system is scheduled for completion in November this year, while the project is likely to be completed in 2026.

Wapda is constructing Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project on River Swat, upstream of Munda Headworks in Mohmand District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

During his visit to the project on Wednesday, the chairman reviewed construction work on different sites, which included reregulation pond, main dam, spillway, diversion tunnels, access tunnel, power intake, power house, switch yard and irrigation system etc.

He urged upon the project management to strictly adhere to the specifications laid down for construction of the project. Reviewing the pre and post-flood situations, the chairman was of the view that concerted efforts are needed to complete this mega project in accordance with the timelines. Wapda’s project management, the consultants and the contractor will have to work pro-actively in this regard, he further said.

Later, GM and PD, Mohmand Dam project, flanked by the consultants and the contractor, gave a rundown of progress on the project. It was briefed that most of the damages, caused to the diversion system by the devastating flood last summer, were got repaired till December last.

Mohmand Dam is a multipurpose project. On completion, it will store 1.2 MAF of water and help mitigate floods in Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera. Besides supplementing 160,000 acres of existing land, it will also irrigate 18,237 acres of new land in Mohmand and Charsadda.

Installed generation capacity of Mohmand Dam is 800 MW. It will contribute 2.86 billion units of low-cost and environment friendly hydel electricity per annum to the National Grid. The project will also provide 300 million gallons water per day to Peshawar for drinking purpose.

The estimated annual benefits of the project stand at Rs 51.6 billion. A sum of Rs 4.5 billion has been earmarked for Confidence Building Measures (CBM) in the project area for socio-economic development of the locals.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023