The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has sought Rs 10 billion from Ministry of Finance for land acquisition for resettlement of those who would be displaced in connection with the construction of Diamer-Basha dam, it is learnt. Sources said that Wapda had written a letter to the Ministry of Finance on September 8, requesting approval of Rs 10 billion funds for acquisition of land for the project that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is likely to inaugurate next month.
The Diamer-Bhasha dam project has been approved by the Council of Common Interests, and the Asian Development Bank has agreed to fund part of the project. According to sources, land acquisition process has already been initiated after completion of design and tender documents for the project which would generate 4500 MW electricity.
The PC-1 of the project was recently revised by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) to extend additional financial benefits to those who would be displaced, including out of court settlement of Harpin Das lands. Bhasha is the key project in a series of hydropower projects to be developed in the upper reaches of Indus river, which include Bunji, Dasu, Thakot and Patan.
According to sources, since the problem of land acquisition was affecting the planned execution of Diamer-Basha dam project, the Prime Minister constituted a ministerial committee to resolve the issue. The committee held three meetings and constituted a subcommittee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, with Secretary, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Division, Secretary, Water and Power Division and Chief Secretary of Gilgit-Baltistan as members. The committee was constituted to discuss the issue of appropriate compensation for the affectees.
The subcommittee held intensive discussions with the affectees and reached an agreement. Subsequently, the ministerial committee, after thorough discussion on the report of the subcommittee noted that: (i) the basic issue of exorbitant rates demanded by the affectees was resolved and the rates were substantively decreased; (ii) out-of-court settlement of Harpin Das lands; (iii) total cost on account of land acquisition was pitched at Rs 40.70 billion; (iv) site(s) would be handed over to Wapda on payment of compensation of these lands, while for the rest of the lands compensation will be made within a period of three years; (v) Wapda agreed to increase the size of residential plots in model villages; (vi) Wapda also committed to offer employment for non-technical positions to the locals of Diamer district, while no compromise on merit in case of technical positions will be allowed; (vii) a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) comprising all stakeholders would be constituted to resolve day to day problems; and (viii) the agreement on compensation would be notified as an award by the District Collector, Diamer, to give it legal validity.