Wapda set for feasibility study into Chiniot Dam project

LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) will arrange part payment and conduct a feasibility study for the much-needed Chiniot Dam project that would mitigate floods in Chenab River in addition to water storage for crops and low-cost hydel electricity generation, an official said on Monday.
“Wapda has decided to arrange Rs86.7 million from its own resources, besides Rs50 million to be provided by the federal government for the study,” spokesman at the utility said.
“The future water requirements for the industry, likely to be set up in the region in the wake of the discovery of iron, copper and gold reserves in Chiniot, have also increased significance of the project.”
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in the Planning Commission of Pakistan recently approved PC-II of the Chiniot Dam for conducting feasibility study of the project at a cost of Rs136.724 million.
The CDWP, while approving the PC-II, said the government would finance up to Rs50 million, while Wapda would have to arrange the remaining amount from its own resources to conduct the study.
In view of its importance, Wapda agreed to the proposal and decided to start the study as early as possible.
“The feasibility study is expected to be completed in one-and-a-half years,” the spokesman added.
After completion of the feasibility study and preparation of detailed engineering design, the Chiniot Dam could be constructed in four years time.
The Punjab plain, due to simple topography, has very little storage sites for the flood water. Besides other sites, the only storage site available on River Jhelum had already been developed by constructing Mangla Dam, which has proven its worth, time and again, to control floods in River Jhelum since its completion in 1967.
River Chenab presents the only site five-kilometre upstream of Chiniot city, which can help store one million acres feet of water and generate 69 megawatts hydel electricity.
The main objectives of the Chiniot Dam include water storage, regulation of existing downstream canal network, power generation and most importantly flood mitigation.
The devastating flood in rivers Jhelum and Chenab played havoc across Punjab in 2014.
Though the raised Mangla Dam absorbed high flows of River Jhelum, there was no such dam at River Chenab. This situation necessitates construction of Chiniot Dam on River Chenab without delay.
The dam will also help meet water requirements of the industry, which is expected to flourish in the suburbs of Chiniot consequent to historic discovery of iron, copper and gold mines in the area.