Diamer-Bhasha Dam
| Diamer-Bhasha Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of Diamer-Bhasha Dam in Pakistan | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Status | Construction of diversion tunnels and support facilities |
| Construction began | 18 October 2011 |
| Construction cost | $11.19 billion (2011 est.) |
| Owner(s) | WAPDA |
| Website http://www.diamerbhasha.com/ | |
Diamer-Bhasha Dam is an under-construction roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam on the River Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan on 18 October 2011. Upon completion, Diamer-Bhasha Dam would be the highest RCC dam in the world. The dam site is situated near a place called "Bhasha" in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer District, hence the name.
Upon completion, Diamer-Bhasha Dam would (i) produce 4,500 megawatts of electricity through environmentally-clean hydropower generation; (ii) store an extra 8,500,000 acre-feet (10.5 km3) of water for Pakistan that would be used for irrigation and drinking; (iii) extend the life of Tarbela Dam located downstream by 35 years; and (iv) control flood damage by the River Indus downstream during high floods.
It will have a height of 272 meters spillway with fourteen (14) 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 (2) underground power houses are being proposed, one on each side of the main dam having six (6) turbines on each side with total installed capacity 4500 MW.
The estimated cost of the project, in 2011, was US $11.19 billion with an estimated completion time of 12 years.
Construction
The President of Pakistan Gen. Pervez Musharraf during his national address on 17 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.
On 11 November 2008, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) gave the go-ahead to the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project. Pakistan's Council of Common Interests (CCI), a constitutional body representing all of Pakistan's provinces, also approved the construction of the Dam.
The Dam's foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan on 18 October 2011.
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.
Need for the project
Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. Pakistan today is among one of the World’s fastest growing population, estimated at around 170 million at the start of 2009. 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 5,000,000 acre-feet (6.2 km3) due to sedimentation. It is estimated that by the year 2012, this loss would increase to 6,000,000 acre-feet (7.4 km3), almost equal to the original combined capacity of Mangla and Chashma reservoirs. Due to the 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 construction of the Diamer Dhasha Dam is a step being taken to prevent the emergence of this scenario.
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 Bhasha Dam will go a long way in alleviating this situation.
Project benefits
• Production of 4,500 megawatts of electricity through environmentally-clean hydropower generation
• Storage of an extra 8,500,000 acre-feet (10.5 km3) of water for Pakistan that would be used for irrigation and drinking
• Extend the life of Tarbela Dam located downstream by 35 years
• Control flood damage by the River Indus downstream during high floods
• Availability of about 6,400,000 acre-feet (7.9 km3) 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 environmentally-damaging thermal power, thus saving foreign exchange
• Short and long term employment opportunities, particularly to locals, during the construction (15,000) and operation phase
• Creation of massive infrastructure leading to overall socio-economic uplift of the area and standard of living of people.
Environmental Impact & Resettlement
Environmental Impact:
• Villages affected: 31
• Houses affected: 4,100
• Population affected: 35,000
• Agricultural land submerged: 1,500 acres (6.1 km2)
• Area under reservoir: 25,000 acres (100 km2)
Resettlement:
• Proposed new settlements: 9 model villages
• Population resettled: 28,000
• New infrastructure, roads, clean water supply schemes, schools, health centres, electricity supply, etc.
• Development of new tourism industry in area around reservoir (including hotels, restaurants, water sports, etc.)
• Development of hitherto non-existent fresh-water fishing industry based on newly-created reservoir
Salient Features
• LOCATION: The Dam will be located on the River Indus in Gilgit-Baltistan, about 315 km upstream of Tarbela Dam, 165 km downstream of the of Gilgit, the capital of Gilgit-Baltistanand 40 km downstream of Chilas. (Latitude: 35°31'0.64"N Longitude: 73°47'31.98"E)
• MAIN DAM Maximum Height: 272 m Type Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC)
• DIVERSION SYSTEM 2 No. Diversion tunnels 1 No. Diversion canal Upstream and Downstream Cofferdams
• MAIN SPILLWAY No. of gates 9 Size of gate 16.5 Χ 15.0 m
• RESERVOIR LEVEL 1160 m Gross capacity 7,300,000 acre-feet (9.0 km3) Live capacity 6,400,000 acre-feet (7.9 km3) Min. operation level El. 1060 m
• OUTLETS Intermediate level 8 Low level 4
• POWERHOUSE(S) 2 Total installed capacity 4500 MW Location and type Toe of the Dam (one each on the right and left side) No. of units 8, each of 560 MW Average generation 16,500 Gwh/year
• ESTIMATED COST (YEAR 2011) US $13 Billion
Total cost & capacity of the project
The cost of the Diamer-Bhahsa dam is $12.6 billion (November,2008) and it will have a storage capacity of 8,100,000 acre-feet (10.0 km3). However, it will have a power generation capacity of 4,500 megawatts.
An amount of Rs 27.824 billion is required for the acquisition of land and resettlement of the people to be affected in the wake of the construction of the dam. Under the proposed project, Rs 10.76 billion will be spent for the acquisition of agriculture-barren land, tree and nurseries and Rs 1.638 billion to be utilised for properties & infrastructure, Rs 8.8 billion for establishment of nine model villages, Rs 62.119 million for pay & allowances for administrative arrangements, and Rs.17.7 million for contingent administrative expenses. The project also includes an escalation cost of Rs 2.234 billion at the rate of 6 per cent per year for five years and interest of Rs 4.309 billion during the implementation at the rate of 9 per cent.
Detailed drawings of the dam were completed by March 2008 and the ground-breaking ceremony is expected to take place in May 2011.[1]
See also
References
- ^ Siddiqui, Hussain Ahmad (11 April 2011). "Kick starting Diamer-Bhasha project". InpaperMagzine. Retrieved 22 April 2011.