'Wapda to complete construction of five small dams in next eight months'

Five small dams having power generation capacity of 225 MW would be completed during next eight months to help mitigate power shortage in the country. The projects to be completed during the period include Sattpara dam, Gomal zam and Jinnah Hydel Power projects, Chairman Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Shakeel Durrani said while addressing the two-day seminar on `Land Acquisition and Resettlement of Mega Hydropower Projects in Pakistan, on Friday.
The government has released Rs 6 billion for Mangla uprising projects and payments to the affectees would start from the next month, he said adding that it would increase the storage capacity of the dam by additional 2.8 million acre feet water by next raining season.
Durrani said that there was complete consensus among all the stakeholders for constructing the Diamer Basha Dam (DBD) and all outstanding issues including land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation have already been settled. The process of land acquisition would continue for next three years and survey to provide all basic facilities for 30,000 affectees of DBD would be completed soon, he added.
He said that government has provided Rs 70 billion for purchasing 200 acre land to construct the physical infrastructure besides the donor agencies were also very keen as after a gap of 35 years any maga project was initiated. To a question, the chairman said that 12 MW thermal unit for Neelum Jehlum Hydel Power Project was order to provide power supply for the construction of the project. Besides, he said that an 18 MW thermal unit would also be installed in site of DBD adding that a 18 MW hydel unit would also be constructed to provide electricity.