As many as three world renowned consortiums submitted their proposals to the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) for consultancy services for main works of the 4500MW Diamer Basha Dam Project. The pre-qualified consortiums led by AECOM of the United States of America, Mott Mac Donald Limited of the United Kingdom and Lahmeyer of Germany put forward their proposals for construction supervision and contract administration.
Diamer Basha Dam Project is a multi-purpose project aimed at storing water for agriculture, mitigating floods and generating low cost hydel electricity. On completion, the project will store 8.1 million acre feet of water and generate 4,500MW electricity, contributing about 20 billion units of low cost hydel electricity annually to the national grid.
For construction of Diamer Basha Dam, acquisition of land, development of infrastructure in the project area and implementation of social action plan are continuing simultaneously through the funds provided by the Government of Pakistan. The acquisition of land is in progress through the governments of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The work on 13 contracts for construction of Wapda offices, colonies, contractors’ camps, roads, and other infrastructure in the project area is progressing satisfactorily. Special emphasises being laid on resettlement action plan, prepared in accordance with international safeguard policies and guidelines. This plan includes construction of model villages for the affected people and other steps leading towards socio-economic uplift of the local populace. In addition, special arrangements are also being made to preserve pre-historic rock carvings and local cultural heritage with the help of international experts.
