National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): The federal government has
allocated Rs 32 billion under Public Sector Development
Programme for the year 2016-17 for 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 of 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.