Bids for Winder Dam construction to be opened on July 24

Lahore: Bids for the construction of the Winder Dam in Balochistan will open on July 24, said WAPDA member (Water) Syed Raghib Abbas Shah. He said special attention would be paid to enhance the pace of work on projects and more water and hydropower generation.

He told the project directors to rehash implementation plans in consultation with construction firms and consultants and get the work done as envisaged in the schedule.

Quantity, quality and financial control should be the keys in execution of the projects, he added. On the progress of the power projects, several water and hydropower projects are presently at the advance stages of their completion.

He said the Mangla Dam Raising Project was nearing completion, and added: 'The second power house of the Satpara Dam is expected to be commissioned in September this year, while the project in totality is likely to be completed by the first quarter of 2009.'

He said detailed engineering designs and tender documents of Hingol and Naulang dams would be finalised up to December this year. In addition, the detailed engineering design of the Nai Gaj Dam would also be completed in February 2009.

He said that with the better inflows and consequently raised levels in the water reservoirs of Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma, the hydel generation had significantly improved. As many as 3,177 Giga watt-hours (Gwh) of electricity were generated during June, he said.

In addition to Gomal Zam, Diamer-Basha, Akhori, Munda and Kurram Tangi dams, Greater Thal, Kachhi and Rainee canals, Khwar, Jinnah and Neelum-Jhelum hydropower projects and various drainage schemes were also reviewed.