Pakistan losing 29 MAF water annually due unavailability of Dams
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ISLAMABAD (APP): As many as 29 million acres feet (MAF) was wasted due to non-availability of water storage facilities every year.
According to official sources, currently there were only two major reservoirs Tarbela and Mangla in the country to store water and no major dam was constructed in last few decades.
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They said the storage capacity had also reduced due to silting. Seven studies had been carried out regarding de- silting of dams but it was very expensive process adding that the idea of de-silting could not be materialized due to cost and other factors. However they said various steps were taken to increase/ maintain present storage capacity of both the reservoirs for agriculture purpose.
The sources said the government was working on a plan to construct new dams in the country and some dams were under implementation stage which would help store some 7.7 MAF water.
These projects included Darwat dam, Nai Gaj dam, Kurram Tangi dam, Naulong dam and Diamer Bhasha dam, they said.
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Similarly, some other projects including Pelar dam, Winder dam, Papin dam and Garuk dam were also ready for implementation which could store 6.242 MAF water.
The sources said recently Mangla Dam has been raised to store 2.9 MAF additional water.
On the completion of Diamer Basha Dam, the useful life of Tarbela Dam Project would also be extended by 35 years, they added.
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They said 90 per cent land had already been acquired for Diamer- Bhasha dam and expressed the hoped that work would be started on thedam in next year.
They said number of small dams was being constructed in all provinces. After the passage of 18th constitutional amendment, the provinces could also construct small dams at their owns, they said.
