Minister for Water Resources Mian Muhammad Mueen Watto today visited the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project in the aftermath of the Intake incident of November 9.
Additional Secretary Ministry of Water Resources Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah and Chairman IRSA Shafqat Hussain Wadho were accompanying him. Member (Water) WAPDA Engr. Asim Rauf Khan, senior WAPDA officers, and representatives of the Contractor were also present on the occasion.
During the visit, the Minister inspected the Intake Structure and other major components of the Project. He reviewed the work under way at the site and sought updates from the project teams on the pace and quality of the ongoing response.
Officials informed the Minister that WAPDA decided to take immediate response measures. They told the Minister that remedial works are actively progressing at the site. The authority focused on work to stabilising the affected area. And addressing the issue in a systematic manner, and establishing preventive measures for the short, medium and long term to guard against a recurrence. The Minister emphasised that the remedial works should proceed with due care, close supervision and sustained coordination among all concerned teams.
WAPDA Assessment:
The consultants, the contractor and the WAPDA teams expressed a shared assessment. They say that, at present, the integrity of the main Tarbela Dam and its critical structures is not under threat. The Minister noted this assessment and stressed the importance of continued vigilance at the Project.
The Minister directed the consultants, the contractor and the WAPDA project team to accelerate the remedial works. And to prepare a contingency plan to contain any delay in the overall completion of the Project. He underlined that every effort should be made to keep the Project on track. The Minister stressed that they ensure safety and quality at each stage.
The Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project is under construction on Tunnel No. 5 of Tarbela Dam with a cumulative generation capacity of 1530 MW.
