Construction work of over Rs 100 billion for raising of the country's second biggest Mangla Dam is in full swing and so far over 54 percent of the construction work on the mega project has been completed, official sources said.
Besides, over 67 percent practical work for rehabilitation of about 50,000 victims of the project has also been completed hitherto, AJK-govt controlled Mangla dam resettlement organisation of AJK government told APP here on Monday. Development works at huge residential schemes including new Mirpur garden city and four towns at different locations in the district exclusively for resettlement of the raising project victims is also underway with full pace.
Official sources said that with the completion of the project, the dam would have the storage capacity of an additional 2.88 million acre feet of water and more than 25,000 acre of land will be irrigated. It would also have the capacity to produce 645 mega watt additional electricity thus raising the existing power generation capacity to 12 percent more.
As a result of completion of this gigantic project, not only the economy of the country will boost but it would also open new avenues for investment in the area.
Since the government has allocated required sufficient funds in the federal budget for the construction of the Mangla Dam Raising Project, over Rs One hundred billion project will usher in the new era of speedy progress and prosperity by bringing about green revolution in the country since the project will augment supply of irrigation water in various parts of the country particularly in Punjab and Sindh provinces at a time when country is in dire need, said the official sources.
Highlighting the salient features of the project, the sources said that there will be additional power generation and further flood alleviation as a result of raising by 30 feet of the dam from the existing 1210 feet level. The conservation level of the dam will be raised by 40 feet from existing 1202 feet conservation level.
On the average, annual water availability for irrigation releases for various parts of the country including both Sindh and Punjab would increase by 2.9 million acre feet (MAF).
The quantity of water shall drastically increase which will enhance the agriculture productions in Punjab and Sindh to greater extent. Resultantly more large-scale area shall come under irrigation opening new avenues of employment to the rural population of both the provinces. In addition to that due to additional storage of water in Mangla dam reservoir and availability of constant head the generation of inexpensive hydel electricity shall increase which will reduce the additional burden of expensive thermal energy from IPPs (Independent Power Projects).
Punjab and Sindh will also enjoy the maximum availability of water through canals and subordinate water channels to irrigate more large-scale areas. Azad Jammu Kashmir will also highly benefit from the dam raising project as the down stream areas on thousands of acres of lands in Mirpur and Bhimbher districts shall be brought under irrigation after having water from the dam in the light of the commitment by the government.
Water from the dam could also be utilised for drinking purposes in Mirpur and the adjoining hamlets on the periphery of the Mangla lake through execution of the greater water supply schemes in Mirpur and the adjoining areas.
Since the completion in 1967, the gross storage capacity of Mangla reservoir has reduced by about 20 percent due to sediments deposition. Compensating for the capacity lost to sedimentation was in mind and a provision for raising of the dam was kept in the original design and construction of the dam.
Raising of the dam has now gained importance on account of the ever increasing shortage of irrigation due to sedimentation of the country's two major storage reservoirs at Tarbela and Mangla. Raising of the Mangla Dam will help to regain the reservoir capacity lost to sediment deposition and make provision for future sedimentation.