MIRPUR (AJK) – The water sector projects are so vital for the country as the Warsak Dam, constructed at a cost of US$109.35 million, has provided the benefits worth US$5.8 billion to the nation so far, Wapda said in an official statement issued on Wednesday.
“The canal system of Warsak Dam project is irrigating some 119,000 acres of land, and has, thus, contributed US$2.3 billion to the national economy since its commissioning. Similarly, Warsak hydel power station has so far generated about 40 billion units of electricity, earning a revenue of US$3.5 billion,” the statement said.
Warsak Dam is located on Kabul River about 30 kilometer North-West of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It is a mass concrete gravity dam with a height of 250 feet and length 460 feet. The project was constructed in 1960 under the Colombo Plan, and was financed by the government of Canada.
In phase-I, dam, irrigation tunnel and four power generating units, each of 40 megawatt capacity, were constructed at a cost of US$98.75 million. In phase-II, two more units, each of 41.5MW capacity, were installed in 1980-81 at a cost of US$10.6 million, thus raising total installed capacity of the project to 243MW.
After completing about 50 years, the generating units of Warsak hydel power station have deteriorated despite extensive repair and maintenance due to heavy sediments in Kabul river. At present, Wapda is engaged in rehabilitation of the project. In addition, Wapda has also decided to construct another underground powerhouse of 375MW at Warsak. Resultantly, the generation capacity of Warsak dam project will rise to 618MW.
Financial arrangements for construction of the underground powerhouse are being negotiated with the various financial institutions. There are strong indications on the part of the financial institutions that they would provide about 75 per cent funds for construction of the underground powerhouse.