Dassu Hydropower Project land acquisition intensifies

Dassu Hydropower Project land acquisition intensifies

ISLAMABAD: (APP) Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pervez Khattak Monday convened a meeting to resolve the issues pertaining to land acquisition for the 4320 MW-Dasu Hydropower Project being constructed by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) on River Indus upstream of Dasu Town in Kohistan District of KP Province.

The meeting was attended by WAPDA Chairman, Ministry of Water and Power Additional Secretary, FC Commandant, KP Senior Member Board of Revenue and Secretary Law Department, Commissioner Hazara Division, Deputy Commissioner Kohistan District and WAPDA Project Director Dasu Hydropower Project, said a press release.

Detailed deliberations were made in the meeting about the issues relating to acquiring of the land required for the project in the area.

Presiding over the meeting, KP Chief Minister took keen interest and assured Water and Power Ministry and WAPDA of his help to resolve the matters of land acquisition as early as possible to enable project authorities to start construction work on the project.

Speaking on the occasion, WAPDA Chairman thanked KP Chief Minister for taking keen interest in resolving the issues of land acquisition for the project.

He said that Dasu Hydropower Project is a vital development project not only for the country but also for KP Province, as the project will stabilize the economy of Pakistan by providing low-cost hydel electricity besides ushering in a new era of socio-economic development in the backward and far flung areas of KP Province.

He further said that Dasu is a World Bank-funded project and every day is critical for its implementation.

On completion, First Stage of the project will contribute more than 12 billion units, while Second Stage will provide another 9 billion units to the National Grid every year, he added.

The Chairman said that KP Province will receive billions of rupees on account of the net hydel profit on completion of the project.

Referring to the security issues, WAPDA Chairman thanked and assured FC Commandant for making security arrangements and assured early settlement of claims for implementation of the project.