Chashma barrage storage capacity now almost half

Chashma barrage constructed in 1971 with a project cost of around Rs 340 million, one of the six river structures provided under Indus Basis Project, has lost half of its storage capacity.
"Experts are of the view that if the silting process continued with the existing pace, Chashma barrage will lose its entire storage capacity in the next 33 years," Chaudhry Shah Din, Chief Engineer of Chashma barrage, told a group of media people from Lahore who were on visit to the barrage recently.
He said that initial estimated capacity of Chashma reservoir was 0.87 MAF which, over a period of 33 years, has reduced to 0.435 MAF due to siltation. "This reveals that about 50 percent capacity of the reservoir has reduced", he added.
It is relevant to mention that Chashma barrage is located on River Indus, some 56 kms downstream of Jinnah barrage near Kalabagh town. The area of reservoir is 139 square miles (360 square kilometers) and it supplies water to C. J. Link Canal on the left and Chashma Right Bank Canal on the right. Unlike other barrages, a small amount of storage has been provided at this barrage. To pass an anticipated maximum design, flood discharge of 950,000 cusecs, 52 gates with 60-ft width each have been provided in the barrage.
A fish ladder and navigation lock has also been provided. Two head regulators, one for C. J. Link Canal and the other for CRBC exist on the left and right banks respectively. A low head hydel power station has been recently constructed on the right side of Chashma barrage.
Chaudhry Shah Din said that the World Bank made financing of Indus Basin Project while the other donors were governments of Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom & USA. He said that the contract for Chashma barrage works was awarded on February 10, 1967 to a French consortium, Societe Dumez and Societe Borie and it was successfully completed on March 25, 1971. The total cost of Chashma barrage stood at Rs 399 million.
Talking about the fisheries related activities at Chashma barrage, Manzoor Khichee a senior official of Wapda, said that activities pertaining to the proper and effective exploitation of fisheries resources in Chashma reservoir were assigned to Wapda by the government of Pakistan in 1979.
Responding to a question, he said that Wapda has so far earned revenue of Rs 141.794 million from Chashma fisheries through a total fish catch of 17,022.212 metric tons since the establishment of fisheries at Chashma barrage.
The journalists also visited Chashma Power House where they were briefed that a low head power station of 184 MW capacity consisting eight units of 23 MW each has been recently constructed on the right side of Chashma barrage utilising available head 4M to 11.6M (13Ft to 38Ft). According to Wapda officials present on the occasion, Chashma powerhouse, even after passing so many years, is running on its full capacity by generating 184 MW.