Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has asked three pre-qualified consortia of consultants for proposals for main works of Diamer Bhasha Dam. It is another significant development for the dam. Three pre-qualified consortia for consultancy services for project’s main works are: AECOM of United States, Mott Mac Donald Ltd of England and Lahmeyer of Germany. Apart from generating 4,500 MW of cheap hydro power, the dam will store 8.1 million acre feet of water for agriculture and tackling floods.
The dam is immensely important for country’s socio-economic development and is a priority project of federal government and WAPDA. Land acquisition, development of infrastructure in the project area and implementation of social action plan are the current activities at the site. Land is being acquired by governments of Gilgit Balitistan and Khyber while 15 contracts are being executed for constructing WAPDA offices, colonies, contractors’ camps, roads, and other infrastructure in the project area.
Here the resettlement plan has been prepared as per international guidelines. This plan includes construction of model villages for the affected and other steps for socio economic uplift of local populace. Arrange-ments are also being made to preserve pre-historic rock carvings and local cultural heritage with the help of international experts. G/o Pakistan and WAPDA are working on many options regarding financial arrangements for construction of the multi billion dollar dam.
