Dasu Dam Likely To Be Completed By 2022: Faisal Vawda

Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda on Monday said the Dasu Hydroelectric Dam, which would generate electricity of 4300 megawatts, was expected to be completed by 2022.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Oct, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda on Monday said the Dasu Hydroelectric Dam, which would generate electricity of 4300 megawatts, was expected to be completed by 2022.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the previous government did not focus on the water projects, causing losses of billions of rupees to the national exchequer.

He said some 10,000 acres of land was required for the Dasu Dam, while the last government only secured seven percent or 740 acres.

The minister said the meeting with the World Bank about the project had been pending for months. The previous government was responsible for the losses accrued due to delay in the hydro projects. A delay of two years had occurred in the Dasu Dam project but now the decisions would be taken on a fast track basis and a one window operation would be set up, he added.

The minister said a meeting would be held in Peshawar to resolve the issues related to the Dasu Dam and hurdles in its completion would be removed.

Vawda said his ministry was taking all steps to reduce the losses. He had empowered the officials of his ministry, and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and asked them to work with speed for the completion of projects.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Supreme Court and the people were concerned about water issues, he noted.

He said the completion of the Dasu project would increase electricity generation by 10 percent. However, the electricity, which could have been generated at Rs 5 per unit, would now be generated at Rs 12 per unit due to the delay.

Loss of Rs 300 million was being incurred per day or Rs 112 billion every year because of the delay, he added.

The previous government delayed the projects because of the kickbacks, he alleged.

The minister said he had instructed WAPDA to ensure generation of electricity which would lead to sustainability of economy.

He said the government was looking into the Indus Water Treaty as the country had its severe problems with India on water issues.

Vawda said the country was facing a water crisis and the federal government would facilitate the provincial governments in meeting their shortages. Nobody knew how much water was taken by the provinces as the telemetry system had been closed in the country.

"This is an eye opener for the people. No government can lock the system like this. We are ready to generate funds for making it functional." He said most of the taxes were collected from Karachi, but it was deprived of its water. Its water worth Rs five million was being stolen creating problems for the citizens of the mega city, he added.

He assured that water resources would be improved in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces. The federal government wanted to give relief in supply of water to Sindh. However, some feudals were only taking care of their own water needs ignoring others, he added.

Talking about the Mirani Dam, he said the previous government did not buy all of the land and now whenever the dam area was flooded with water it had to give compensation of billions of rupees to the affected people.