For the construction of a dam, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Energy & Power Department, Irrigation Department, and Public Health Engineering Department.
The water storage dam in District Karak, KP is for the Nashpa Greater Water Supply Scheme (NGWSS).
The Nashpa block’s huge population has faced a severe lack of drinking water due to the lack of groundwater potential for tube wells, as well as a perennial spring or water source that might be developed to construct a water supply plan to fulfill the area’s drinking water needs.
The demand for water in this region is about 15 GPCD, or 328,745 gallons/0.611 cusec/442.240 acre-feet per year while the population of the region is around 21,916 individuals.
As a result, for the construction of a dam, an agreement was signed between OGDCL, MOL Pakistan, and prominent leaders from Nashpa Field’s surrounding areas at an appropriate place where gravity flow could be maintained in 11 Nashpa villages (Lorgai, Sanda Manzai, Salkhani, Sand Khurram, Nashpa, Faqiri Banda, Zanrraka Banda, Pirmila, Paindi Banda, Mir Kalam, and Khazi Bai).
The projected dam is located 24 kilometers northeast of Karak. On the Indus Highway, the location lies 54 kilometers from Kohat, through the village of Shaheedan, on an unpaved road to the left.
At Rs. 16.63 million per year, OGDCL now delivers drinking water through bowsers daily to meet the requirements of the Nashpa residents.
Since signing the agreement in 2012, OGDCL has always followed through on its obligations, and the approval and implementation of the NGWSS is another example of this.
On May 13, 2020, OGDCL approved its preliminary permission for the Nashpa Dam project for Karak, on the condition that the necessary analysis and correct estimation/PC-1 be provided with the board for formal approval.
Because of the dam’s poor technical capacity, the project was handed in principle to the provincial government, which would carry it out through its respective line departments. These departments have the necessary experience and technical expertise to complete the project in a timely and cost-effective manner.
The government will next report the final project feasibility, as well as cost estimates and execution timelines, to OGDCL for approval.