Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is carrying out construction activities on the projects of Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dams to match timelines despite COVID-19 pandemics, according to Chairman WAPDA Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain (Retd), reiterating his commitment for the completion of both projects as early as possible.
Mr. Hussain told the Implementation Committee on Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dams (ICDBMD) on Wednesday, which was reviewing the progress of the mega multi-purpose projects of Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dams. He also heads ICDBMD, formed in 2018 for the early commencement and timely completion of both projects.
“While the pandemic has negatively affected the whole world, at present, construction is continuing on as many as 13 sites of Mohmand Dam and 10 sites of Diamer Basha Dam,” he informed ICDBMD.
The Chairman also updated the participants on the impediments in the way to smooth execution of Diamer Basha and Mohmand Dams including COVID-19, financial flows, emerging security scenario, land acquisition and completion of critical stretch of relocated Karakoram Highway in case of Diamer Basha Dam.
WAPDA started construction on Mohmand Dam in May 2019 and Diamer Basha Dam in July 2020, which are scheduled to be completed in 2025 and 2029 respectively. The Gross water storage capacity of Mohammad Dam is 1.29 Million Acre Feet (MAF) and installed generation capacity is 800 Megawatts (MW). Likewise, the gross water generation capacity of Diamer Basha Dam stands at 8.1 MAF while the installed generation capacity of the projects is 4500 MW.
China Gezhouba Group of Companies (CGGC) and DESCON are executing the 800MW Mohmand Dam Project in a joint venture.
The contract for consultancy services for the project was awarded to Diamer Basha
Consultants Group (DBCG). The Joint Venture DBCG comprises 12 top-ranking national and foreign consulting firms, which also includes the China Water Resources Beifang Investigation, Design and Research Company (China).
