Rs 32 billion allocated under PSDP for Diamer Bhasha Dam

The federal government has allocated Rs 32 billion under Public Sector Development Programme for the year 2016-17 for a construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

According to official sources here on Tuesday, upon completion of the Diamer-Bhasha dam, Pakistan’s existing 30-day water storage capacity would reach 90 days.

Diamir-Bhasha Dam, one of the most important energy projects in the country 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.

The government assigns the highest priority to Diamer-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 Diamer-Bhasha Dam, a gravity dam on the River Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, was laid on October 18, 2011.

Upon completion, Diamer-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 Diamer District, hence the name.

Diamer-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 by 35 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). Two underground power houses are being proposed, one on each side of the main dam having six turbines on each side with total installed capacity 4500 MW.

In January 2006, the government announced the decision to construct five multi-purpose storage dams in the country during next 10-12 years.

According to the plan, Diamer-Bhasha Dam project was proposed in the first phase.

In November 2008, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council formally approved the project.

Council of Common Interests Pakistan, a constitutional body representing the provinces, also approved the construction of the dam.

The cost of the Diamer-Bhasha dam was estimated at $12.6 billion.

Detailed drawings of the dam were completed by March 2008.

The project is located on Indus River, about 315 km upstream of Tarbela Dam, 165 km downstream of the Northern Area capital Gilgit and 40 km downstream of Chilas.