GENERAL

The President of Pakistan during his national address on 17th January 2006 announced the decision of Government to construct 5 multi-purpose storages in the country during next 10 -12 years. Diamer Basha Dam Project will be undertaken in the first phase. Work on the project will start after the ground breaking ceremony by the President of Pakistan. On completion of detailed design and tender documents, the construction of World highest Roller Compacted Concrete Dam shall commence.

THE PROJECT

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 (refer location map). The proposed dam would have a maximum height of 270 m, and impound a reservoir of about 7.4 million acre feet (MAF), with live storage of more than 6.4 MAF. Mean annual discharge of Indus River at the site is 50 MAF. Thus the dam will impound 15% of the annual river flow. The dam project would cover an area of 110 km2 and extend 100 km upstream of the damsite upto Raikot Bridge on Karakoram Highway (KKH).

NEED OF THE PROJECT

Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Pakistan today is among one of the World’s fastest growing population, now estimated as over 150 million. Due to lack of large river regulation capability through sizeable storages, the country is already facing serious shortages in food grains. Given the present trend, Pakistan could soon become one of the food deficit countries in the near future. Therefore, there is a dire need to build storages for augmenting agriculture production.

Tarbela, Mangla and Chashma reservoirs have already lost about 5 MAF due to sedimentation. It is estimated that by year 2012, this loss would increase to 6 MAF, almost equal to the original combined capacity of Mangla and Chashma reservoirs. Due to complete stoppage of any sizable multi-purpose storage development after commissioning of Tarbela Dam in 1976, sustainability of existing irrigated agriculture of Pakistan is in serious jeopardy. The President has taken a very bold initiative by taking the decision to construct Diamer Basha Dam Project.

The present demand of electricity in country is above 17,000 MW, which is estimated to cross 22,000 MW by the year 2010. A large-scale injection of power thus becomes inevitable. Hydropower will provide the required electricity at affordable price. Contribution of 4500 MW power from Diamer Basha Dam will go a long way in alleviating this situation.

PROJECT BENEFITS

• Availability of about 6.4 MAF annual surface face water storage for supplementing irrigation supplies during low flow periods
• Harnessing of renewable source of clean and cheap energy through installed capacity of 4500 MW
• Reduction of dependence on thermal power, thus saving foreign exchange
• Employment opportunity, particularly to the locals, during the construction and operation
• Creation of massive infrastructure leading to overall socio-economic uplift of the area and standard of living of people.

ENVIRONMENT AND RESETTLEMENT*

(After Reducing Dam Height by 10m)

*Subject to refinement during detailed design stage

SALIENT FEATURES