Islamabad(July 10, 2018): Acting President Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has donated 1.5 million rupees for Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams.
In a statement, he lauded act of Chief Justice Mian Muhammad Saqib Nisar for setting up a fund for the dams.
He said Chief Justice has not only taken this step timely but it is indispensable to tackle the water shortage issue.
Sadiq Sanjrani urged overseas Pakistanis to donate for this national obligation.
He said water emergency should be enforced in the country and public be made aware about the issue.
Construction of Bhasha Dam To Start in Current Fiscal Year:
The construction of Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams will start during the current fiscal year 2018-19, the WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) informed Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (r) Nasir ul Mulk on Monday.
During a briefing here at the PM Office, WAPDA Chairman Lt Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain informed the Prime Minister about the issues related to water in the country.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by WAPDA in hydro-power sector and stressed concerted efforts to overcome the impending water crisis.
Mulk was informed that Diamer Basha Dam Project had a gross water storage capacity of 8.1 MAF and power generation capacity of 4500 MW. Likewise, Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project will store 1.2 MAF water and generate 800 MW electricity.
The 1410 MW- Tarbela 5th Extension, the 2160 MW-Stage II of Dasu, the 7100 MW-Bunji and the Stage II of multipurpose Kurram Tangi Dam among the ready-for-construction projects.
The WAPDA Chairman said WAPDA completed four mega projects from August 2017 on wards to irrigate 72,000 acres of virgin land in Dera Bugti, Balochistan and add 2487 MW of hydel electricity to the National Grid.
He said the projects included Phase 1 of Kachhi Canal, Golen Gol, Tarbela 4th Extension and Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project.
PM Mulk was apprised that Stage 1 of Kurram Tangi Dam Project would be completed in 2020, while the 2160 MW – Stage 1 of Dasu Hydropower Project was scheduled to start electricity generation by 2023.
Armed Forces To Contribute in Fund For Dam: ISPR
Pakistan’s armed forces will make contributions to the fund opened to facilitate the construction of Diamer-Basha and Mohmand dams, said military media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement on Monday.
According to the ISPR, the Pakistan Armed Forces will contribute to Diamer-Basha & Mohmand Dam Fund.
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Officers of Pak Army, Navy and Air Force will contribute their 2 days’ pay while soldiers one day’s pay to the announced fund for this national cause.
The fund was announced by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar recently. He has vowed to not let anyone misappropriate the funds being collected for construction of dams to resolve the country’s water crisis.
SC Orders To Construct Bhasha, Mohmand Dams Immediately:
Earlier on July 04, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered on Wednesday the immediate construction of Bhasha and Mohmand Dam.
Announcing short verdict in case pertaining to the construction of Kalabagh and other dams to overcome the shortage of water in the country, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Mian Saqib Nisar ordered the construction of Bhasha and Mohmand dams on priority basis.
In the court order, it was said that the water resources are pertinent not only for human lives but for the country’s stability.The judgement stated that water is necessary for the survival of the country and public.
The court also summoned a report from the federal government, Wapda and other concerned departments in three weeks.
During the proceedings, the Attorney General (AG) told the apex court that the general public wanted construction of dams in the country and the court will have release clear orders of construction of dams.
He said that the Council of Common Interest (CCI) had also approved construction of Basha Dam which would have the capacity to store 6.4million acre of water, while Kalabagh Dam would have the storage capacity of 6.1million acre of water.
While giving his remarks, the CJP said that the nation wants to play its part for the construction of dams, adding that the general public is contacting them for the construction of dams and rid the country of its loans.
It further said that the Council of Common Interest did not express any reservation against Bhasha and Mohmand Dam.
“How much water are we wasting?” the CJP, during the hearing, remarked.
The ministry of power and water responded that water worth millions of dollars is being wasted, adding that in one year 90 million acre-feet water is wasted.
He said that after Tarbella, a new dam should be built every ten years.
According to the ministry of power and water, one million acre-feet water costs $500 million.
During the hearing, the CJP asked why the government does not want dams to be built, to which the officials of the ministry responded that the underlying issue is that it isn’t the government’s priority.
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