ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has completed the feasibility study of the Akhori Dam which has almost the same storage capacity as the controversial Kalabagh Dam. Wapda documents, available with The News here on Saturday, reveal that the feasibility was completed by a privately hired firm and the federal government has been approached for allocation of funds to go ahead with the project. Like the Kalabagh Dam, Sindh is likely to have serious reservations about the Akhori Dam, analysts say. The Akhori reservoir would be built taking in water from three rivers, the Indus, Kabul and Haro. It is situated on the Nandna Kas stream in Punjab’s northern district of Attock. The proposed Akhori site is near Akhori village and it would be 130 meters high. It is to be constructed in five years. The officials explained that the major pond is to be constructed on the Haro and Nandna Kas and Indus-Kabul waters would be diverted through a channel to ensure availability during the dry seasons. W hile considering all aspects, Wapda officials said the Akhori dam has been evaluated to be just like the KBD in economic importance. “Its construction cost is three times lower than Kalabagh,” an official said. “Feasibility Study Completed, Approval of PC-II for Detailed Design and Tender Documents awaited,” are the exact words of the July 5 presentation given to the Senate’s Functional Committee on Less Developed Areas. Headed by Senator Wali Muhammad Badini, the committee was furnished the latest update on water and power related projects as the working papers were prepared up to June 30, 2012. The study, Wapda officials said, has now been submitted to the federal authorities for removal of the reservations of Sindh or any other province and while seeking the PC-II approval for detailed design and tender documents as early as possible. In response to a question, they said there are options to have canals or leave it as a carry-over dam (with no outlet, canal). However, it would store the water which flows to the sea during every monsoon. In comparison to KBD, the Akori dam would have water storage of 7.6 million acre feet (maf), equal to the KBD but its cost as well as power generation will be extremely low. According to the documents, the total cost on Akori is estimated to be around US$ 4.4 billion against more than US $12 billion for the Kalabagh project located in Mianwali district of the Punjab. Akori will generate 600 MWelectricity as compared to KBD’s 3,600 MW.