LAHORE: Chairman Wapda Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (r) on Friday reached Diamer Basha Dam site to witness construction activities on the project.
Diamer Basha Dam Project is progressing ahead, as construction work is simultaneously underway day in and day out on 14 key sties of the project, being constructed by Wapda across River Indus, 40Km downstream of Chilas Town.
He visited, in detail, the sites of diversion canal, guide wall, diversion tunnel, upstream and downstream coffer dams, permanent bridge and left and right abutments of the main dam.
The project team consisting CEO Diamer Basha Dam Company, General Manager/Project Director, Diamer Basha Dam Project, the consultants and the contractors, briefed the Chairman about progress on each site. It was briefed that diversion system is functioning satisfactorily. The permanent access bridge, downstream of the main dam site, has been completed while adjacent approach roads are scheduled to be completed by next month.
The Chairman directed the consultants and the contractors to strictly adhere to the construction standards laid down for ensuring quality of the works.
During his visit to Diamer Basha Dam, the Chairman also participated in a jirga with the Gilgit Baltistan Ministers and the civil administration, wherein a thorough deliberation was made upon resettlement of the affectees, chulha package in particular. The Chairman said Wapda highly values the sacrifices of the locals for construction of the project, therefore, every effort is being made to bring positive change in life of the people through economic empowerment and social uplift.
Wapda has been spending a hefty amount of Rs78.5 billion for resettlement of the affectees and development schemes in health, education and infrastructure in the project area. Moreover, priority is also being accorded to the locals in employment opportunities at the project.
Diamer Basha Dam is the highest Roller-Compacted-Concrete (RCC) dam in the world with 272 meter height. Scheduled for completion in 2028, the dam has a gross water storage capacity of 8.1 MAF to irrigate 1.23 million acres of land. With an installed power generation capacity of 4,500MW, the project will provide 18 billion units green, clean and the most affordable electricity to the national grid every year.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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