Dr Waqar Ahmad presents ‘An overview of sediment transportation into the Mangla reservoir, Pakistan’, on Friday 22 September 2006 from 1pm to 2pm.
Pakistan is endowed with a large number of rivers spreading across its four provinces. During British rule a massive irrigation canal systems was developed to ensure sustained supply of water to the farming communities.
In 60’s and 70’s to sustain the increased agricultural production and to generate electricity for the rural and industrial sectors, a network of medium to large water reservoirs were built in the Indus river basin.
Over the last thirty years sand, silt, clay and other insoluble materials are constantly being transported into the water reservoirs either as suspended sediment or bed load. This has caused a loss of reservoir capacity with a significant loss of irrigation water, electricity generation capacity and flood control effectiveness.
This year, the Pakistan Government has declared the shortage of water resources as the greatest threat to Pakistan’s agrarian economy and the booming industrial sector.
The multi purpose Mangla dam was completed in 1967 on the Jhelum River in northern Pakistan. The dam is mainly used for hydro-electric power generation and irrigation, and is of great economic importance.
Dr Ahmad’s presentation will provide an overview of the collaborative research project between CDU and Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. It is anticipated that this project will develop a scientific basis for the Mangla catchments with a recommended strategy to reduce sedimentation in Mangla Reservoir.
Dr Waqar Ahmad is a senior lecturer with the Faculty of Education, Health and Science. Prior to commencing at CDU in 1994, he worked in various Australian universities and as a visiting research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, USA. Dr Ahmad is consultant to the FAO and the United Nation's environment development program.
This seminar takes place in Room 1, Building 22, Casuarina Campus, Charles Darwin University.
Visit the School for Environmental Research website for more information about this and other SER seminars.