Power projects: Diamer-Basha Dam to be built in a few years: Wapda

ISLAMABAD: Stakeholders have reached consensus over the construction of Diamer-Basha Dam (DBD), according to the chairperson of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Shakeel Durrani. He revealed that all outstanding issues, except the demarcation of the provincial boundaries, had been settled.

“Wapda is a technical organisation and will accept whatever is decided with the consensus of all stakeholders,” he added, while addressing the concluding two-day seminar on ‘Land Acquisition and Resettlement of Mega Hydropwer Projects in Pakistan’ here on Friday.

The process of land acquisition would continue for the next three years. A survey for the provision of basic facilities to approximately 30,000 affected locals of DBD would be completed soon, according to him.

He said it is the first mega project of its kind, being built after 35 years in the country. He added that the government had provided Rs70 billion for purchasing 200 acres of land to construct the dam’s physical infrastructure. Moreover, donor agencies had also shown interest.

In addition, five small dams, with the capacity to generate 225 Megawatt (MW) of electricity, would also be completed within the following eight months to help mitigate power shortage across the country. Sattpara dam, Gomal zam dam and Jinnah Hydel power projects would be completed within the same period.

Moreover, the government has released Rs6 billion for payments to the affected locals of Mangla dam, which would begin next month, said a high-ranking official of Wapda. Durrani revealed that the storage capacity of the dam would be increased by an additional 2.8 million acre-feet by the next raining season, which would help resolve the energy crisis.

In reply to a query, the chairperson said that a 18-MW thermal unit would also be installed at DBD, in addition to a 18-MW hydel unit. He also said that the construction of the dam, which will generate about 40,500 MT of power, was inevitable.

Abdul Hameed Nayar, an energy expert, told The Express Tribune that the construction of DBD had both merits and demerits. He said that the dam would be capable of generating a considerable amount of electricity, but at a heavy cost of the environment. He emphasised the need for the government to take mitigation steps in advance.

“Pakistan does not have a good history of mega-projects because the locals are always neglected. Locals affected by DBD’s construction must be compensated and a transparent system should be developed to avoid corruption,” the expert added.

The leader of the opposition of the G-B Legislative Assembly Bashir Ahmad Khan said injustice to the people of the province will not be tolerated. “If we are making a sacrifice for our country, we must be given our due rights,” he demanded.

Chairperson of the Dam Affectees Action Committee Diamer, Attaullah, said that the government failed to fulfil the demands which were agreed upon on March 10, 2009. He urged the concerned authorities to reach a consensus on providing the locals their due demands, which includes employment opportunities. “We are making a sacrifice for our country”, he said, adding that “we have already lost two brothers while four others were injured in a firing incident last year.”

Speaking at the seminar, local representatives, NGOs and tribal elders advised the government to involve the local community in decision-making. They also asked for full compliance in adjusting the local labour and technical work force as it was their due right.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2011.