News
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
WAPDA loses Rs 3 billion in damage to hydro projects
* Khwar Hydropower Project worst hit as floods damage roads, embankments
* Authority chairman says 12 medium-sized irrigation dams being built
By Shabbir Sarwar
LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) had suffered Rs 3 billion losses in damage to three under construction hydropower projects, namely Khwar, Jinnah and Neelam-Jehlum, Daily Times learnt on Monday.
These losses are in addition to the damage to Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) projects. However, according to WAPDA sources, all major dams, including Tarbela, Mangla, Warsak, Chashma Power Plant and Ghazi Brotha Project were safe. When contacted, WAPDA’s Public Relations Director Muhammad Abid Rana said the total hydropower generation capacity is 6,644MW, out of which 6,500MW was being generated routinely. He said due to the increased water intake at the Chashma Power Plant, a release level required to run turbines at a specific speed could not be achieved, which consequently reduced power generation. He denied any damage to the plant.
The floods had damaged embankments and road infrastructure at the under-construction Khwar Hydropower Project, which is subdivided into three projects: Bashaam, Alai and Pattan. Jinnah Hydropower Project in Mianwali and Neelam-Jehlum Hydropower Project in Muzaffarabad, also suffered losses.
On the other hand, the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) incurred Rs 10 billion losses as floods washed away the company’s equipment and infrastructure in various flood-hit areas, reducing electricity generation by 1,600MW. According to PEPCO’s Director General (Energy Management and Conservation) Muhammad Khalid, five distribution companies, Peshawar Electric Supply Company, Multan Electric Supply Company, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, Quetta Electric Supply Company and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company, had been affected by the floods.
During his inspection visit to the RBOD projects, Manchar Lake and Main Nara Valley Drain on Monday, WAPDA Chairman Shakil Durrani said the authority not only took effective measures for the protection of its installations but also provided technical support to the provincial governments to safeguard barrages. He said that WAPDA was working on three mega projects, Diamer Bhasha, Munda and Kurram Tangi dams. These projects, he said, had a gross storage capacity of 10.6 million acre feet (MAF). In addition to these, 12 medium-sized irrigation dams having a total storage capacity of about 3MAF are also being built. Durrani asserted these projects would help stop flooding in the future while ensuring availability of water for irrigation and production of low-cost hydel electricity.
He directed the WAPDA officials concerned to strengthen critical drain embankments to prevent breaches in the future. On the flood-relief efforts, Durrani said WAPDA had actively participated in relief activities in the flood-hit areas adjacent to its projects. Besides distributing relief goods and providing medical facilities to the flood victims, it had also donated Rs 50 million to the Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund, he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk