Federal government and affectees of Diamer Bhasha dam have reached an ''out of court'' settlement as government will provide Rs 40 billion compensation to displaced people of 31 villages for kicking off the project. The government will build nine model villages for the affectees near the dam.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Chairman Ministerial Committee on Bhasha Dam Affectees, Federal Minister for Kashmir and Northern Areas (KANA) Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo announced the accord along with Federal Minister Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf and Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Mehdi Shah.
Prime Minister has also accorded approval for the release of Rs 4 billion to compensate the affectees of Mangla Dam. Manzoor Wattoo said that Diamer Bhasha dam affectees had initially demanded of the government Rs 58 billion compensation that was scaled down to Rs 40 billion after hectic negotiations with them. The amount will be disbursed in three-year period.
"Under the agreement 37,000 acres land will be utilised for the construction of dam, but government will provide compensation for 18,000 acres whereas 18896 acres will be free of cost," Minister said adding that survey for land acquisition has been finalised. No new survey will be launched. Minister said that preference would be given to the local community regarding the jobs provision on the billion dollars project.
"Earlier, five marlas were proposed for the residential plot but it has been decided to provide residential plot of one kanal to the affected families," Minister maintained. Minister said that a dispute resolution committee had also been formed to resolve minor issues of the affecttees. Wattoo said that the lifetime of Tarbela dam would be increased from 40 to 50 years after the completion of Bhasha dam project.
The dam will generate 4500 Megawatt per day electricity and have the water storage capacity of 6.4 million acre feet. He noted that existing road could not bear the weight of heavy traffic and added that Prime Minister would be requested to approve Rs 60 million additional funds to upgrade the road.
"Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has committed to establish Polytechnic Institute in Chilas, Minister said adding that a hospital will also be set up in Chilas. Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said that international financial institutions had offered assistance for the project that would cost 12 billion dollar. He informed that government had also announced 32 other dams across the country.
He said that Mangla and Terbala dams were being affected due to silting and Bhasha dam project would result in increasing the lifetime of these two existing dams. Replying to a question about the Kalabagh dam, he said that provincial assemblies of NWFP and Sindh had passed resolution against this project and therefore, federal government did not want to start the work against the will of the federating units.