Islamabad: The country’s Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has labelled Kalabagh Dam a technically viable project, according to a news report. The Wapda Chairperson Muzammil Hussain further added by saying that the concerns of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already been addressed, and now the concerns of the political barriers remain to be removed.
While addressing a briefing at the Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources, Hussain said that the current water situation shows that the country is in dire need of construction of water reservoirs. He also added that the rapid population growth has outstripped the availability of water and requirs more dams to be constructed. He quoted statistics highlighting 60% of the population as engaged in agriculture and livestock, while the country is in the top 15 most water-stressed countries. He termed the Indus Cascade the most precious asset and said that the 1,400 feet altitude of the dam was an ideal location for building reservoirs and run-of-the-river-projects.
The committee was given an account of the Wapda projects including Kachi Canal (PH-1) which was initially commissioned during September 2017. The Nai Gaj Dam is also expected to be complete by June 2019. Plans for a number of dams and hydropower projects were also highlighted and the construction of new reservoirs was urged.
