HARIPUR, Feb 24: General Manager Tarbela Dam Hazrat Omar has said that 1,360 megawatts of electricity will be added to the national grid through Tarbela Dam’s fourth extension project.

He was addressing a seminar held at Ghazi titled environmental impacts of Tarbela’s fourth extension on the local population, which was organised by MMP, a non-governmental organisation, here on Thursday.

Mr Omar said that earlier the extension was designed to generate only 960MW but the experts from international companies had redesigned the project owing to its potential and country’s needs and enhanced it to 1,360MW. He added that the new project would have three units of 450MW each on tunnel No.4 and this addition would have lasting impact to meet the energy crisis in the country.

He, however, made it clear that the project would have no negative impact on the local population and said that there would be no resettlement of population. He said that apprehensions of the local people would be addressed properly prior to the launch of project.

Earlier, speakers from MMP and other local organisations and political workers discussed at length the socio-economic and environmental impact of the extension project on the local population and put up certain demands before the formal launch of $800 million World Bank funded project.

The speakers while referring to the past bitter experience of Tarbela Dam said that despite rendering sacrifices of their land, they only received deprivation and shallow promises. —Correspondent