The Mangla Dam
By Mumtaz Hamid Rao

WITH the rapid influx of the ‘new arrivals’ on the dazzling Earth planet, a new perception — based on the real facts — is surfacing that the ‘future wars between the nations will be fought for water instead of pieces of land’.

Prima facie this concept seems to be a harbinger with a clear-cut mindset for today’s world that it should — right now — start concentrating on mobilizing water resources in place of blind collection of arsenals of diverse nature. As the noted theorist Mike Murdock says ‘ Truth is the most powerful force on earth because it cannot be changed’. Going into micro interpretation of this vision, each and every one would come to the conclusion that ‘whereas water is the name of survival with dignity, the arms are the perilous course of the human devastation.’

The foremost need for every nation around the world, which needs attention with optimal zest in the ‘global village’ thus is to amplify and accelerate steps for enhancing water resources - the only pre-requisite for the survival of the mankind as the peace and prosperity can be achieved only and only via this approach, if adopted by the pragmatists.

Its’ a hard fact that whosoever came to this planet has to make a petite sacrifice to achieve a cherished goal to the multilateral benefit of the co-existents. Its’ again a reality - persevered by historians - that ever since the birth of the Earth, multiple societies emerged and vanished in the arena, spanning over years in times beyond once imagination. Realizing this truthful perception, a grand step has been initiated - the raising of the Mangla Dam, which has no doubt played a pivotal role in turning our sanctified soils into a ‘lush - green land’.

If one views with a realistic analysis, the newly-launched Rs 59 billion gigantic Mangla Dam Raising Project will usher in an era of progress and prosperity by bringing about green revolution in the fabulous Pakistan. Since the project will augment supply of irrigation water in various parts of the country specifically in Punjab and Sindh provinces—most explicitly—at a time when country is in its dire need. There will be an additional power generation facility and further flood alleviation as a result of raising by 30 feet of the Dam from the existing 1210 feet level.

The conservation level of the Dam will be raised by 40 feet from existing 1202 feet conservation level. On the average, annual water availability for irrigation releases for various parts of the country including both Sindh and Punjab would increase by 2.9 million Muqa’ab acre feet (MAF).

The magnitude of water shall increase to a dazzling extent which will enhance the agriculture produce in Punjab and Sindh to comparative a greater extent. Resultantly much more large-scale area shall come under irrigation system, opening new avenues of employment for the rural folk of all the provinces—including NWFP and Balochistan plus the fascinating soil of Azad Kashmir.

Due to additional storage of water in Mangla Dam reservoir and availability of constant flow of the generation of inexpensive Hydel electricity shall—simultaneously—multiply which will reduce the burden of expensive thermal energy from IPPs [Independent Power Project].

Punjab and Sindh provinces will also enjoy the maximum availability of water through canals and subordinate water channels to irrigate a large-scale area to the eventual affluence of all the provinces.

Yet another sparkling feature of this venture is that Azad Jammu Kashmir will equally be benefiting to a lofty scale from the Dam raising project as the downstream areas with thousands of acres of lands in the globally-known Mirpur and its adjacent locales in Bhimbher shall have irrigation links with the inflow of the waters of the Dam as is being envisioned by the realistic souls.

Water from the Dam could also be utilized for drinking purposes in the swiftly-growing hilly terrains of Mirpur plus its close vicinities like the charismatic hamlets on the periphery of the Mangla lake.

As the experts look at it, the average annual energy output is estimated to gear-up by 772 GWH which is equivalent to an increase of about 150 megawatts in output of the current 1000-MW power plant.

The Dam raising project will also help generate construction activity and employment opportunities at an alluring scale. The Dam has already contributed significantly towards improvement of the environs in terms of agriculture growth, job opportunities and a better living style. Availability of refreshed water for hydro power—simultaneously—seems sure to amplify such impressive and positive impacts.

Ever since its completion in 1967, the gross storage capacity of Mangla reservoir has reduced by about 20 per cent due to sediments deposition. Compensating for the capacity lost to sedimentation was kept in mind and a provision for lifting of the Dam was indexed in the original plan of the gigantic project.

Raising of the dam has now gained impetus due to the growing shortage of water for irrigation, an upshot of the sedimentation of the country’s two major storage reservoirs at Terbela and Mangla.

Raising of the Mangla Dam will by all means help regain the reservoir capacity, lost to sediment deposition amid provision for sedimentation in times ahead. Main features of the venture manifest four earth dams with a maximum height of 454 ft. (154 meters) and total length of about 13 kilometers. For flood routing, two spillways are to be provided.

When completed in 1967, Mangla reservoir had a gross storage capacity of 5.878 million Maqaab Feet [MAF], which has by now reduced to the extent of 4.68 MAF. The capacity will reduce further to 4.5 MAF by the time the Dam raising project is completed in June 2007.

After the launching of the long-awaiting project, people expect an expeditious construction of other dams elsewhere in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir to make Pakistan a prosperous and glorious.●

© 2005 Mumtaz Hamid Rao