The groundbreaking of Wapda offices and colonies of Diamer-Bhasha dam is expected next month. The federal government has released an initial sum of Rs 700 million to Wapda for acquisition of land to construct Diamer-Bhasha Dam in Gilgit-Baltistan.The amount has been handed over to the deputy commissioner, Diamer-Bhasha Dam.
This was revealed in a meeting held between Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister, Syed Mehdi Shah and Chairman Wapda, Shakil Durrani, following the latter's visit to Diamer-Basha dam project site. The chief minister referring to the water and hydropower potential of Gilgit-Baltistan said that development of these resources by constructing Diamer-Bhasha dam and other projects would not only strengthen national economy but also pave the way for socio-economic uplift of the area.
The chairman Wapda said that Diamer-Bhasha Dam, the largest project ever executed in the history of Pakistan, would store 8.1 million acre feet (MAF) of water and generate 4500MW of low-cost hydel electricity on its completion. Apart from providing water for agriculture, the project will also contribute 18 billion units of electricity per annum to the national grid, he added.
Besides Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Satpara, Bunji, Dasu, Shyok and other water and hydropower projects, located in Gilgit-Baltistan were also discussed in the meeting. The chief minister assured that Gilgit-Baltistan government would extend optimum support and co-operation to Wapda in execution of its projects in the area. The chairman presented a cheque of Rs 0.5 million to the chief minister as additional donation for the flood/rain victims. Wapda has already spent about Rs 2.5 million on relief activities in the areas adjacent to Diamer-Bhasha Dam project and provided a cash donation of Rs 50 million.
The chairman Wapda also visited Bunji hydropower project as well as Shyok and Satpara dams. Senior USAID officials also accompanied him during the visit.
The general managers concerned briefed the chairman of the progress made on the projects. It was told that the feasibility study of 7100MW Bunji hydropower project had already been completed, while seismic studies and detailed engineering design of the project would take another 18 months. The main dam of Satpara project is complete and consequently, the reservoir was filled up to 85 percent of its capacity this summer.
The construction work on the irrigation system and the powerhouse is under way. The chairman directed that remaining works on Satpara dam project would be completed in the shortest possible time in view of its significance for the area, as it would irrigate more than 15,500 acres of land in Skardu and its suburbs and generate about 17 MW hydel electricity.
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