The access tunnel to allow swift excavation of diversion tunnels at Mohmand Dam in Pakistan has been completed, with construction work progressing simultaneously on nine different sites at the project.
Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) was briefed on the state of construction by Mohmand Dam Project Director and General Manager Muhammad Javed Afridi, Security and Land Acquisition & Resettlement Director General Brigadier Imtiaz Hussain, representatives of the consultants and the contractors during a visit to the project.
The Chairman was briefed that excavation work on main dam, spillway, power intake, diversion tunnels and re-regulation pond is under way in addition to construction work on irrigation tunnel, access roads, project colony and offices. The baily bridge across River Swat is also being constructed for mobilization of construction machinery, workforce and equipment on both banks of the river.
Reviewing construction activities at the project, the WAPDA Chairman said that Mohmand Dam is instrumental for the economic stability of Pakistan and social development in the country, with timely completion of this project of paramount importance.
Mohmand Dam is being constructed on the River Swat, upstream of Munda Headworks in Tribal District Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the 5th highest concrete face rockfill Dam (CFRD) in the world. On completion, the dam will store about 1.2-million-acre feet (MAF) of water and help mitigate floods in Peshawar, Charsadda and Naushera. Besides supplementing 160,000 acres of existing land, about 18,237 acres of new land will also be irrigated. Mohmand Dam powerhouse will generate 800MW hydroelectricity. In addition, 300 million gallons water per day will also be provided to Peshawar for drinking purpose. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs. 51.6 billion.
