ISLAMABAD: Akhori, Munda and Kalabagh dams can store about 40 million acres feet (MAF) additional water.
Official sources told that every year some 29 MAF water flown downstream due to non-availability of water storage in the country resulting billion of rupees loss to the national economy.
They said that around 40 MAF could be stored in the proposed Kalabagh, Akhori and others dams but unfortunately consensus among the provinces could not build on these dams so far.
While giving the details, the sources said that the Akhori dam could be built within five years and it would have water storage capacity of 7.1 MAF.
They said that the feasibility of Akhori Dam had carried out in 2006 and work on detailed design and preparation of PC-1 for land acquisition could not be started due to non- achieving consensus among the provinces through Council of Common Interest (CCI).
The sources said that the reservation of Balochistan had already been addressed. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh governments are not even ready to take presentation for the last seven years, they added.
They further said that 100 percent land has already been acquired for a mega multi-purpose project Diamer Bhasha Dam and it would not only store some 8.1 MAF water but also generate 4500 MW cheap hydel electricity. The dam would also help enhance the life of Tarbela Dam for at least 50 years more, they added.
