Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and a joint venture of Power China-FWO on Wedn-esday inked agreement worth Rs 442 billion for construction of diversion system, main dam, access bridge and 21MW Tangir Hydropower Project.
Diamer Bhasha Dam's Chief Executive Officer Amir Bashir Chaudhry and authorized representative Yang Jiandu signed the agreement on behalf of Wapda and the Joint Venture respectively. Water Resources Federal Minister Faisal Vawda, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, Water Resources Federal Secretary, Muhammad Ashraf, Wapda Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd), Pakistan Army Engineer-in-Chief Lt Gen Moazzam Ejaz and FWO DG Maj Gen Kamal Azfar were also present on the occasion. Addressing the ceremony, Faisal Vawda congratulated Wapda and Power China-FWO Joint Venture, saying that "today's event is a good omen for construction of much-needed dams in Pakistan." He said that construction of Diamer Bhasha Dam would commence in a few weeks. He said Diamer Bhasha Dam was a phenomenal project to ensure water, food and energy security in Pakistan. Dilating upon the developments of water sector by the incumbent Federal Government, the Minister said that after Mohmand Dam, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in May last year, Diamer Bhasha was the second mega multi-purpose dam that was to be started in a span of just one year which was unprecedented in Pakistan 's history.
Speaking on the occasion, Wapda Chairman Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd) said that Diamer Bhasha Dam would go a long way towards economic development and social uplift of the country. He reiterated that Wapda was committed to completing that mega project in accordance with the time lines to cope with the increasing water and electricity requirement in the country.
Diamer Bhasha Dam Project, with a total financial outlay of about Rs 1406.5 billion will be completed in 2028. The total financial outlay includes land acquisition and resettlement, confidence building measures for social uplift of the locals, construction of dam and power houses. The Project had a gross storage capacity of 8.1 million acre feet (MAF) and power generation capacity of 4500 megawatt (MW), with annual generation of 18.1 billion units per annum, he added.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, Pakistan Army Engineer-in-Chief Lt Gen Moazzam Ejaz and Power China Chairman Yan Zhi Yong also expressed their views during the ceremony. It is pertinent to mention that Wapda has already awarded contract for consultancy services of Diamer Bhasha Dam to Diamer Bhasha Consultants Group (DBCG) worth Rs 27.182 billion. The consultancy agreement includes construction design, construction supervision and contract administration of Diamer Bhasha Dam Project.
The Joint Venture DBCG comprises 12 top-ranked national and foreign consulting firms namely NESPAK (Pakistan), Associate Consulting Engineers (Pakistan), Mott MacDonald Pakistan (Pakistan), Poyry (Switzerland), Montgomery Watson and Harza (MWH) International - Stantec (USA), Dolsar Engineering (Turkey), Mott McDonald International (England), China Water Resources Beifang Investigation, Design and Research Company (China), Mirza Associates Engineering Services (Pakistan), Al-Kasib Group of Engineering Services (Pakistan), Development Management Consultant (Pakistan) and MWH Pakistan (Pakistan) with Nespak as the lead firm. These firms have vast experience of providing consultancy services for mega water projects the world over. A couple of days ago Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasised the need for water security and construction of mega dams including Diamer Bhasha Dam Project, adding that all efforts were under way by the Wapda to ensure timely mobilization of the contractor and effective follow up on Diamer Bhasha Dam Project. Former Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal stated that tender for construction of Bhasha Dam would commence when financing of $8 billion would be arranged. He further stated that PML-N government had completed land acquisition with Rs 124 billion and Rs 24 billion were earmarked in budget 2019-20 but the incumbent government did not spend even a single penny on the project.
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