Diamir Bhasha Dam construction to start next year

ISLAMABAD: The construction work of Diamir Bhasha Dam, one of the most important energy projects of the country, would start in the next year.

The land acquisition process for the project has been finalized with a cost of Rs104 billion according to official sources in the Ministry of Planning Development and Reforms.

The project likely to be part of second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is life and death for Pakistan as it would not only generate 4,500 MW 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 so in order to prevent food starvation this project would be developed at any cost Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal told a recently held meeting here.  He said the government assigns the highest priority to Bhasha Dam because a serious water crisis is looming in next five to ten years which will be much bigger than electricity crisis.  The foundation stone of Diamir Bhasha Dam a gravity damon the River Indus in Gilgit Baltistan was laid on October 18, 2011. Upon completion Diamir Bhasha Dam would be the highest,roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam in the world.

The dam site is situated near a place called Bhasha in,Gilgit Baltistan s Diamir District hence the name.

Diamir Bhasha Dam would produce 4 500 megawatts of electricity through environmentally clean hydropower generation store an extra 8 500 000 acre feet (10.5 km3) of water for the country that would be used for irrigation and drinking extend the life of Tarbela Dam located downstream by35 years and control flood damage by the River Indus downstream during high floods.

It will have a height of 272 meters spillway with fourteen gates each 11.5 m x 16.24 m.

The gross capacity of the reservoir will be 8,100,000 acre feet (10.0 km3) with a live storage of 6,400,000 acre feet (7.9 km3).