Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has paid the remaining sum of Rs 3 billion to the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for compensation of built-up property belonging to the affected people of Mangla Dam Raising Project. Hence, total payment for land acquisition and built-up property for Mangla Dam Raising Project has now been made to the AJK government.
This also includes payment to the old affected people of Mangla Dam. The AJK government has started disbursement of the amount to the affected people and the process will be completed by the end of next month. Thereafter, the affected people will be given sufficient time to construct their houses on the alternate locations.
This significant development has paved the way to filling of the raised Mangla Dam, which was completed in 2009, but filling of the raised reservoir could not be started due to non-payment to the affected people because of the financial crunch. Now, Wapda has planned to start test-filling of the water reservoir this year up to 1230 feet above sea level.
It is pertinent to mention that the remaining resettlement works, including four satellite towns and the construction of Dhan Gali Bridge across the Jhelum River are in advanced stage and expected to be completed very soon. Mangla Dam Raising Project is being completed with the revised cost of Rs 101 billion, out of which Rs 64 billion were allocated for resettlement works alone.
The project, being executed under "Vision 2025" of Wapda will enhance the existing live storage of the reservoir to 7.4 million acre feet (MAF) by adding 2.9 MAF to its capacity. The Raised Mangla Dam will also increase generation capacity of the existing powerhouse. Resultantly, 644 million additional units of electricity will be contributed annually to the national grid.
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