LAHORE: WAPDA is executing around 20 water and hydropower projects in order to cater the swelling demand of water and electricity.
This was stated by WAPDA Chairman Shakil Durrani, while addressing a delegation of PAF Air War College Karachi, headed by Air Vice Marshal Azher Hassan at WAPDA House.
The Chairman, speaking on the occasion, stated that per-capita availability of water in the country had diminished to an alarming level due to mounting population. In addition, a reduction in the existing water storage capacity mainly because of the natural phenomenon of sedimentation in Mangla and Tarbela reservoirs had turned
Pakistan into a water-stressed country. Pakistan will eventually become water-starved, if storage capacity was not developed by construction of new dams, he added.
The Chairman stressed the need to take measures vis-a-vis decrease in water losses and to promote efficient as well as more productive usage of water in agriculture sector besides developing water storage capacity. He lamented that construction of Munda Dam would have prevented flood in Nowshera.
He informed the delegation that WAPDA is executing Munda Dam Project on priority basis in the wake of catastrophic flood. This multi-purpose mega project would not only help control floods but would ensure availability of irrigation water and provide cheap hydro-electricity.
During a briefing on the water sector, WAPDA General Manager (Planning and Design) Water informed the delegation that an additional 20 million acres of land could be brought under irrigated agriculture if the water is made available by construction of new dams.
The delegation was also briefed about the per-capita availability of water, sedimentation in the reservoirs and the projects being executed by WAPDA in water and hydropower sectors.
PEPCO General Manager (Planning) NTDC, dilating upon the power sector, informed the delegation regarding the demand and supply scenario, upcoming projects in power sector and the factors contributing towards a hike in electricity tariff. Later, WAPDA Chairman and the delegation head exchanged souvenirs as memento to the visit.
