The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has planned to fill the raised Mangla Dam up to its maximum level of 1242 feet this year subject to the availability of water against last year’s test-filling of 1210 feet.
The standard operating procedure in this regard has already been approved by the Federal Government.
This was stated by WAPDA Chairman Shakil Durrani during a briefing to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan and Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majid regarding the Mangla Dam Raising Project.
AJK Chief Secretary Shehzad Arbab, WAPDA Secretary Muhammad Imtiaz Tajwar, General Manager (Projects) North Rashid Ali Khan Bangash and Mangla Dam Raising Project Director Ghulam Sarwar Memon were also present during the briefing.
Speaking on the occasion, the chairman said the Mangla Dam Raising Project had cost about Rs 97 billion and would significantly contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country, as it would store an additional 2.9 million acre feet of water besides generating 644 million additional units of electricity annually from the existing Mangla Power Station.
Additional benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs 18 billion per annum, he added. The chairman said the people affected by the project had been compensated through an unprecedented compensation and resettlement package.
It is pertinent to mention that the Mangla Dam Raising Project has been completed with a cost of about Rs 97 billion, out of which a hefty amount of over Rs 65 billion was spent for compensation and resettlement works.
The resettlement included the construction of the New Mirpur City and four satellite towns, the Mirpur by-pass, a bridge over New Bong Canal and Dhan Gali Bridge across River Jhelum.
Later, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majid, accompanied by WAPDA Member (Water) Syed Raghib Abbas Shah inaugurated the Islam Garh town-one of the four model towns developed as a part of the project.
In a ceremony, AJK Prime Minister and WAPDA Chairman gave away certificates, cash awards and souvenirs to all officials of WAPDA and AJK who rendered their services for the completion of the project.