ISLAMABAD: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Chairman Lt Gen(retired) Muzammil Hussain on Thursday said Dasu and Mohmand dams would becompleted in 2024.
Talking to reporters outside the Supreme Court, he said he had soughtguidance from the Attorney General on legal matters.
Hussain said in Thursday’s meeting he got legal advice on the ongoingprojects of WAPDA.
The authority had resolved the issue of giving alternative land toaffectees of Basha Dam as there was no alternative land inGilgit-Baltistan, he added.
The chairman said locals of Gilgit-Baltistan had been paid against landacquired for the construction of Basha Dam, adding they were satisfied onreceiving money against their land.
Hussain said the work was continuing round the clock at 21 power housesand employees were working in shifts to protect them from the coronavirus.
He said global institutions’ response for dam’s funding was not encouragingso WAPDA decided to build the dam with its own resources.
WAPDA had received 18 per cent funds for the dam from the government whilethe rest of funding would be arranged by itself, he added.
The WAPDA chairman said despite the virus pandemic, work on Pakistan’shydropower projects was in progress.
He said in the last two years many energy projects had been completedsuccessfully and 2,487 megawatts affordable electricity was being suppliedto the national grid. Affordable hydropower would reduce the dependence onexpensive IPPs, Hussain added.
He said the electricity generated from hydro projects would cost about Rs2per unit as the power of IPPs was costing Rs18 per unit.
He said the construction work on Dasu and Mohmand Dams was in progress,adding work on Diamer Bhasha Dam would begin in the next few weeks.
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“Bhasha Dam has a capacity of generating 4,500MW and its capacity to storewater would be 8.1 million acre feet,” he added.
Hussain said the dam would prove to be a game changer for the Pakistan’seconomy. The construction of the dam would end the exploitation of thenation by IPPs, he added.
He said earthquakes and environment in the country were being propagatedagainst these projects and WAPDA with the help of local and foreign expertsand engineers would resolve these issues soon.
He said the Supreme Court’s committee headed by former WAPDA chairman ShamsUl Mulk was overseeing these projects.
Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Jawed Khan told reporters thatbriefing the apex court judges would lower the issues of public problems.
He said Chairperson Ehsaas Program Dr Sania Nishtar had assured that theaid would be databased and the individual would have to go through fivedifferent stages for his identification.
Khalid said the Tiger Force would only target people in villages and towns,who were without cell phone and internet facilities.
He said judges were rightly concerned about the closure of hospitals aspatients with other diseases remained without treatment.
Khalid informed the court that out patients departments would be openedstep-wise.
