Diamer-Bhasha Dam: Construction to begin next year

ISLAMABAD:

Construction work on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam would start next year, said officials in the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform.

Land acquisition process for the project has been finalised with a cost of Rs104 billion.

The project, likely to be part of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), would not only generate 4,500 megawatts of electricity but would also serve as a huge water reservoir for the country.

“After a decade, the country is expected to face acute shortage of water, in order to prevent food starvation, this project will be developed at any cost,” Planning, Development and Reform Minister Ahsan Iqbal said.

He said the government accorded highest priority to the Dam because a serious water crisis was feared in the next five to ten years, much bigger than the electricity crisis.

Diamer-Bhasha Dam would produce environmentally clean hydroelectric power, store an extra 8.5 million acre feet of water that would be used for irrigation and drinking, extend the life of Tarbela Dam located downstream by 35 years and control flood damage downstream Indus River during high floods. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2015.

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