OGDCL, KPK Govt sign MoU for constructing dam in Karak

ISLAMABAD, April 5: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and different departments of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to construct a dam for Nashpa Greater Water Supply Scheme (NGWSS) in District Karak of the province. The departments, including Energy & Power, Irrigation and Public Health Engineering, of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, were among the signatories of the MoU, a news release said here on Tuesday. According to the details, the proposed dam is located at a distance of 24 KM North-East of Karak city. The site is accessible after 54 KM from Kohat on Indus highway towards the left side with an un-metalled road via village Shaheedan. The Nashpa dam project for Karak was approved in principle by the OGDCL on May 13, 2020 with the condition that necessary analysis and proper estimation/ PC-1 would be shared with the Board for formal approval. Keeping in view the limited technical capacity regarding the construction of a dam, the project in principle was shifted to the Government of KPK which would execute it through its relevant line departments. The relevant line departments of KPK are experienced and technically most suitable to execute the project efficiently and cost-effectively. During the next phase, the Government of KPK shall present the final project feasibility along with cost estimation & execution timelines for approval from OGDCL. Currently, the OGDCL is providing drinking water through bowzers on daily basis to meet the requirement of locals of Nashpa area at cost of Rs. 16.63 million per year. The population of Nashpa block is about 21,916 people with a water demand of approximately 15 GPCD is about 328,745 Gallons, 0.611 cusecs or 442.240 acre-feet per year. -DNA