The Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif told the Senate earlier yesterday that seven water reservoir projects, including the controversial Kalabagh Dam, were under consideration.
In a written reply to a question by PML-N Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, the minister also said that the detailed design and tender documents of the Kalabagh Dam had been completed since 1988 and the implementation/ construction work on the project could be started once a decision was taken by the government. He pointed out that four water projects, including the Pelar Dam, Papin Dam, Winder Dam and Garuk Dam, were ready for implementation.
The minister noted that five projects were under implementation, namely Darawat dam, Nai Gaj Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Naulong Dam and Diamer Basha Dam.
Asif conceded it was a fact that during the monsoon season, the unused quantum of water flowed to the sea because of water storage constraints and the average (1976-2015) quantum of water annually escaping to the sea was 29.30 million acre feet (MAF).
The minister revealed that Wapda had prepared a comprehensive plan to take water during the high flow season and utilise the same during the lean season for agriculture and the generation of electricity and then he referred to projects that included the Kalabagh Dam, Akhori Dam and Shyok Dam.
