LAHORE: As a mark of goodwill gesture for the people of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K), WAPDA has decided to reconstruct the stretch of Mirpur-Kotli dual carriage way at Khaliqabad, which collapsed in November 2014.
WAPDA will also take remedial measures for protection of the adjoining affected portion of the reservoir.
It has also been decided that reconstruction of the road and remedial works will be completed by the end of July this year.
This decision was taken in a meeting of the Authority held at WAPDA House on Thursday.
WAPDA Chairman Zafar Mahmood chaired the meeting.
It was noted in the meeting that the Raised Mangla Dam was filled to its maximum capacity of 1242 feet above mean sea level last year.
The reservoir retained this maximum level for a few weeks which started receding afterwards.
Mangla reservoir has a natural embankment on the suburbs of Mirpur city.
There was a single road on the natural embankment which the AJ&K Government expanded into a dual carriage way after completion of the Raised Mangla Dam.
The meeting observed that had WAPDA been consulted prior to construction of the dual carriage way leading to Kotli, it would have recommended special measures in view of the possible capillary action by Mangla reservoir.
The measures would have included required compaction of the material for road foundation, and construction of retaining wall with specified design.
Unfortunately, the requisite measures were not taken during construction of the Mirpur-Kotli dual carriage way.
That is why a portion of the road slid into the Mangle reservoir when the water receded.
The meeting expressed its satisfaction that the water from the Mangla reservoir did not seep through despite sliding of the road.
The meeting was informed that WAPDA teams inspected the collapsed area along the reservoir.
Keeping in view the difficulties of the people and the insistence of AJ&K Government, WAPDA has decided to reconstruct the damaged portion of Mirpur-Kotli dual carriage way from its own resources.
The meeting noted that reconstruction of the road will facilitate the people, as roads provide connectivity among various cities and towns.
The meeting also decided to request the AJ&K government that in case of any construction on the periphery of the Mangla reservoir, WAPDA should be consulted to meet the specific requirements for the construction.
