WAPDA prepares to divert Swat River at Mohmand Dam

Lahore: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is set to achieve a significant milestone by diverting the Swat River at the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project in the coming days.

The authority announced on Monday that the diversion tunnels are complete, and the river-closure-dyke will be finished soon, even during the high flow season.

WAPDA Chairman Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) recently visited the site to review the progress, inspecting key areas like the diversion tunnels, powerhouse, spillway, and power intake. He was briefed that the concrete lining of diversion tunnel 3/1 is complete and ready for river diversion, while other construction activities are advancing rapidly.

During a meeting at the project office, the Chairman discussed the river diversion plan, quarries development, and construction schedule of the main dam, emphasizing the importance of maintaining quality work. The Mohmand Dam, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohmand District, is set to be the world’s fifth-highest concrete-face-rock-fill dam and the highest in Pakistan, with completion expected in 2026-27.

The project will store 1.29 million acre-feet of water to irrigate 18,237 acres of new land and support 160,000 acres of existing land. It will generate 800 MW of electricity, producing 2.86 billion units annually, and supply 300 million gallons of drinking water per day to Peshawar. The annual benefits are estimated at Rs. 51.6 billion.