Wapda, locals enters into agreement to acquire land for Mohmand Dam

Khudayar Mohla
Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority has entered into agreement with tribal elders of Mohamand relating to rates for acquiring land for Mohmand Dam projects in pursuance of the Supreme Court verdict for early commencement and timely completion of Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dams in the country.
According to a statement from the WAPDA on Sunday the Authority succeeded in achieving yet another land mark on Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project, as a formal agreement was signed between the tribal elders and WAPDA under the supervision of District Administration Mohmand for acquiring the land to construct Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project.
The agreement pertaining to the rates for acquiring the land has also been endorsed by the Sub Committee on Land Acquisition and Resettlement of Mohmand Dam Project formed under the Implementation Committee on Dams.
This achievement has been made possible with the active support of the local administration, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government, the local elders and the Members of the National Assembly belonging to the project area.
This development has paved the way to initiate construction work on Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project in pursuit of the historic judgment of the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan dated July 04 this year for early commencement and timely completion of Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dams by constituting the Implementation Committee on Dams.
The agreement has also been endorsed by the Sub Committee on Land Acquisition and Resettlement of Mohmand Dam Project formed under the Implementation Committee on Dams.
It is worth mentioning that a total of 8675 acres land is to be acquired for construction of the requisite infrastructure at the Dam site, 56-kilometer long reservoir and irrigation network and re-regulation pond area.
Contrary to other major projects like Diamer Basha Dam and Dasu Hydropower Project, where process for acquiring the land has been lingering since long, the formal agreement with the local tribes to acquire land for Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project has been signed after consultation of a few months. The tribes of Burhan Khel,
Esa Khel and Saparay Mulagoree of Tehsil Pandiali and Pranghar and MNA from Mohmand District Sajid Khan and MNA from Charsada Malik Anwer Taj signed the agreement with Wapda for land.
WAPDA using bridge financing through its own resources, transferred Rs. 684 million to local administration for purchase of land.
Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project is historic and unique in nature being constructed on River Swat in erstwhile Tribal District Mohmand of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province after the delay of over five decades.
The project is scheduled to be completed in five years and eight months with an approved PC-I of about Rs. 309 billion. On completion, the project will store about 1.2 million acre feet (MAF) of water and generate 800 megawatt (MW) of low-cost hydel electricity.
The project will significantly contribute towards development of agriculture, industrial, economic and social sectors in the country besides alleviating poverty and providing job opportunities to the locals in the project area. Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs. 51.6 billions.