TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION

BACKGROUND

Technical Services division was created in 2002 to render advisory / expert services on various projects of Vision 2025. Since then, the division has been providing technical assistance on different water resources and hydroelectric projects, including completion of Feasibility Study and Detailed Engineering of Diamer Basha Dam Project. After conclusion of detailed engineering studies, Diamer Basha Dam Project has entered into implementation stage under a separate organization.

 
ORGANIZATION

The office of the General Manager (Technical Services) supervise different offices / formations:

Office of Chief Engineer (Technical Services) reviews various engineering studies being carried out in WAPDA and provides technical support for trouble shooting and problem solving for various projects. Valuable inputs have been provided on various projects, such as  Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project, Pelar Storage Dam Project, Bunji Hydropower Project, Lower Spat Gah Project, Lower Palas hydropower Project, Dasu Hydropower Project, Phandar Hydropower Project, Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project, Harpo Hydropower Project and Basho Hydropower Project. This unit also carries out special inspections of WAPDA projects as and when authorized and prepares necessary technical reports. In addition, Technical Services also performs coordination functions to streamline the work of lower formations of the division, reviews and comments on feasibility /design for water and hydropower projects undertaken by various consultants as referred by project authorities.

In 2008, The World Bank initiated WCAP (Water Sector Capacity Building and Advisory Services Project). The main objective of this programme is to support capacity development and water institutions building. The project is scheduled to be implemented over a period of five years (September 2008-2013). Component B of WCAP relates to WAPDA which is associated with improvement in Water Resources Management and Development.

The office of the Chief Engineer (Technical Services) is the focal point for the activities of sub component B-3 i.e. Assets Management, as detailed below:

a)         Purchase of Antelope Software for Micro Seismic Data Analysis

WAPDA has installed a Micro Seismic Monitoring System (MSMS) of ten remote field stations in the seismically active Northern Areas of Pakistan. WAPDA is planning to extend the MSMS to thirty-five field stations for the safety monitoring of its present and future large Dams/Hydropower Projects. It will require an advanced system of hardware/software to handle huge seismic data for processing, further analysis and interpretations. This system has been acquired from M/s Kinemetrics and installed at Tarbela. Training has also been imparted to WAPDA Seismologist/Geophysicist regarding installation and use of the software from March 05, 2010 to March 21, 2010. This activity has been completed in all respects, and the system is working as intended.

(b)           Purchase of Equipment for CMTL

Planning  and Design of Civil Engineering Works require geotechnical investigation, laboratory testing of construction materials under simulated field conditions. Testing facilities are essential for ensuring public safety and for finding solutions to complex problems.

The capacity building for CMTL under WCAP will be carried out in two phases. Phase-I consists of procurement of equipments / accessories or spare parts compatible with existing equipment in CMTL. The contract has been awarded to M/s National Scientific Corporation Lahore for Procurement of Rock Mechanic equipments and related services amounting US$ 587,010.92 under WCAP Component B3 Phase-I for CMTL. Under Phase-II, the equipment required for the following special tests for Roller Compacted  Concrete (RCC) to procured.

- Set time tests of RCC mortar sieved from the full mix at different temperatures.
- Coefficient of thermal expansion for the RCC prisms.
- Supplemental alkall aggregate mortar and RCC prisms.
- Creep for various mixes and ages of loading.
- Autogenous volume change for mixes used in creep tests.
- Adiabatic temperature rise for various mixes, retarder and start temperatures.
- Direct tensile stress strain curves for cores taken from the adiabatic temperature rise samples after testing.
- Specific Heat
- Diffusivity or Conductivity
- Direct Shear tests on large shear blocks cut from test pads.
- Slow Load Strain Capacity.
The procurement under Phase-II consisting of equipments for special tests as well as on job training of the CMTL staff is under process. Contract agreement with Dr. Ernest Schrader (RCC specialist) for Consultancy Services has been signed. The Consultant shall provide the following services.
- Provide detailed plan for up gradation of CMTL and Finalization of Equipment list and Fabrication Design.
- Provide details for special construction and arrangements required to install the equipment.
- Privide practice session to the CMTL staff and arrange with oveseas laboratories for imparting training to CMTL Personnel for representative.
- Presentation on work done, preparing and delivering and acceptable final completion report and manuals for conducting these tests.

(c)           Dam Safety Training

In order to enhance the capacity and expertise of the WAPDA Engineers, foreign training from USBR has been planned to be provided in various dams engineering disciplines under WCAP. Four Engineers have completed eight weeks training at USA from USBR in the following engineering discipline.
- Dam Safety Inspection
- Reservoir Sedimentation
- Roller Compacted Concrete
- Seismicity
- Hydropower Projects
- Concrete Technology
- Tunneling
- Geotechnical
- Instrumentation

2. Chief Engineer, Dams Safety Organization (DSO)

The office of Chief Engineer, Dams Safety Organization (DSO) carries out Annual, Periodic and Special Inspections of various dams. Details may be accessed from in link http://www.wapda.gov.pk/htmls/water-index.html.

3. Project Director, Central Material Testing Laboratory (CMTL)

Central Material Testing Laboratory (CMTL) has very important role in material testing and field investigation of various projects being undertaken by WAPDA. Details may be accessed from the link http://cmtl/wapda.com.pk/main.html

4. Director General (Environment) / WEC

The office of Director General (Environment)/WAPDA Environment Cell, reviews 0the environmental aspects of various project and implements Environment Management Plans and facilitates the clearance of WAPDA’s projects from various environmental protection agencies. It also oversees the work of consultants engaged in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) studies for different hydropower projects. Details may please be accessed from the link http://www.wapda.gov.pk/htmls/anexIVwec.htm

ACHIEVEMENTS

Presently the Technical Services division shouldering advisory / technical responsibilities for different WAPDA projects along with the administrative control of the following sub-formations:

• Dams Safety Organization (DSO)
• Central Material Testing Laboratory (CMTL)
• WAPDA Environment Cell (WEC)

- Recently, Technical Services has given valuable technical comments on various Hydropower Projects reports which includes Draft Design reports of Bunji Hydropower Project, Feasibility report of Pelar Storage Dam Project, Feasibility Study Reports of Lower Spat Gah Hydropower Project and Lower Palas Valley Hydropower Project, Inception Report of Phander Hydropower Project, Inception Report of Keyal Khwar Hydropower Project, Inception report of Basho Hydropower Project , Inception Report of Harpo Hydropower Project and use of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP).
- Advised Indus Water Commissioner and attended meetings with Indus Water Commissioners of Pakistan and India on hydropower Projects, being constructed in Indian held occupied Kashmir such as Kishanganga, Baglihar, Nimo Bazgo and Alchi.
- Provided comments on Kehmil Small Plant, Ranja- Ala  Dunadi Hydroelectric Plant, Marpo-Choo Micro Hydel Project, Baglihar Hydroelectric Plant Stage-II Dumkhar Mini Hydel Project, Baglihar Hydroelectric Plant Stage-II Dumkhar Mini Hydel Project w.r.t Indus Water Treaty on following Projects.
- Reports on Principal Findings and Recommendations of Baseline Inspection of Ghazi Brotha Hydropower Project, Periodic Inspection of Chashma Barrage and Annual Inspection reports for year 2010-11 of Tarbela Dam (high level), Mangla Dam, Warsak Dam and Hub Dam have been sent to concerned quarter after reviewing. Draft detailed report of Ghazi Hydropower Project received from consultant is being reviewed and commented.
- The following projects are to be visited during the year 2010-11 by a high level inspecting team constituted by Member (Water) including the office of General Manager (Technical Services) on Dam Safety principles including the standard condition survey when flood level recede.

- Ghazi Barrage
- Chashma Barrage
- Jinnah HPP
- Neelum Jhelum HPP
- Duber Khwar HPP
- Khan Khwar HPP
- Allai Khwar HPP

• Executive Contract Under Collaboration Agreement Between WAPDA And IWHR China

This office is providing the coordination among IWHR China and the project authorities for the Executive Contract Agreement signed on October 18 2010 between IWHR China and WAPDA. Total contract price is US$ 2,314,945 for its successful implementation. The following studies have been included for collaboration.

a. Gomal Zam Dam

Technical Assistance for design review of the right abutment works and elimination of the Surge Shaft.

b. Three High Head Hydropower Projects 

Technical assistance for sediment management of three Hydropower Projects with the help of physical and mathematical model and to prepare optimum operation and maintenance manuals. Technical assistance for investigating turbine sediment erosion problem to evolve technical plans to minimize the turbine sediment erosion.

c. Upgrading for CMTL

Refurbishment and Up-gradation to meet the testing demands of ongoing projects in the fields of RCC dams and underground works.

d. High Efficiency Irrigation System in the Command Areas of Two Dam

Technical assistance for establishing pilot projects, up gradation of water saving laboratory, technical personnel training and construction of drip irrigation tape manufactory.

e. Diamer Basha Dam

Review of spillway design through physical modeling (shaking table test) against earthquake.