KARACHI: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is planning to enhance the water storage capacity of the Hub Dam in view of this year’s heavy rains in Balochistan and Sindh.

In mid-July, the water level in the dam, which provides 100 million gallons per day to Karachi, had reached 340 feet.

During a visit to the dam, Wapda chairman Retd Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani was informed that the enhancement of the storage capacity of the reservoir would not only provide additional water to Karachi and Balochistan, but also help control floods.

The chairman was briefed by the general manager projects (South) and Hub Dam project director, and was told that Wapda was evaluating various possibilities for enhancing the storage capacity.

He was briefed about the safe and effective operation of the dam during the torrential monsoon rains in July and August in the dam’s catchment area located in Balochistan and Sindh. He was informed that the dam successfully stored the floodwater and helped contain a devastating impact downstream of Hub and Karachi.

Earlier, the Wapda chairman visited the K-IV project office and had briefings about the progress of the long-awaited and much-delayed water supply project. He was also briefed about the RBOD-I and III, Nai Gaj Dam, Naulong Dam, Sindh Barrage and other projects.

The chairman was told that the RBOD-I and III were complete, and had performed satisfactorily in the recent floods, while negotiations were under way to hand over these projects to the Sindh government.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2022