Chairman WAPDA visits Gomal Zam dam

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Muzammil Hussain Friday visited Gomal Zam Dam located in South Waziristan tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Chairman had a detailed round of various components of the dam and the power house during the visit, said a press release issued here.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman said that WAPDA projects had been significantly contributing towards socio-economic uplift of the remote and backward areas of the country besides stabilising the national economy by providing water for agriculture and adding low-cost hydel electricity to the National Grid.

Since its completion in 2013, Gomal Zam Dam has been playing a key role in poverty alleviation through development of irrigated agriculture in the area.

Likewise, Kurram Tangi Dam, being constructed by WAPDA in North Waziristan tribal district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, will also go a long way for progress and prosperity of the local populace.

The Chairman was briefed that Gomal Zam Dam is a multi-purpose project with the objective to ensure availability of water for irrigated agriculture, control flood and provide low-cost hydel electricity.

Gross storage capacity of the project is 1.14 million acre feet (MAF) of water to irrigate 163,000 acres of land.

Gomal Zam hydel power station has an installed capacity of 17 megawatt (MW).

The Chairman was also briefed that Waran Canal System is heading towards completion with overall progress of about 85 percent.

This Canal System will irrigate another 28,000 acres of land in the area.

Later, the Chairman also visited the site of Tank Zam Dam Project located in Hinis Tangi about 50 Kilometers from Tank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

WAPDA has completed its feasibility studies, and after completion of the detailed engineering design, WAPDA will start construction of the project, vial for development of this far-flung area.

Tank Zam Dam will have a gross water storage capacity of 0.345 MAF to irrigate 55,500 acres of land. In addition, the project will also generate 25 MW of electricity.