Taking strong exception to a news report aired by a private television channel, a Water and Power Development Authority's (Wapda) spokesperson said that the country's biggest water reservoir Mangla Dam was absolutely safe and no cracks whatsoever appeared in it.
The spokesperson made it clear on Monday that a portion of Mirpur-Kotli dual road located at Khaliq Abad in the periphery of Mangla reservoir slid towards the reservoir in 2014. This dual road, constructed by the AJK, is not part of Mangla Dam. However, Wapda as a good will gesture, carried out short term measures and rehabilitated the collapsed portion of the road and filled the Mangla reservoir to its maximum level ie 1242 feet above mean sea level. This year, Wada is carrying out the long term measures for rehabilitation of the road adjacent to the reservoir rim. Contracts are being awarded for the purpose. The rehabilitation works will be completed very soon, the spokesperson concluded.