Gilgit - Baltistan

Engineering design and tender documents of 7,100MW Bunji Hydropower Project ready, says WAPDA

Lahore: Training in progress. GB was represented by Chief Secretary Sajad Hottiana
Lahore: Training in progress. GB was represented by Chief Secretary Sajad Hottiana

Islamabad, May 6 (APP): On Monday, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) announced that it has completed detailed engineering design and tender documents of the 7,100-megawatt (MW) Bunji Hydropower Project, and will soon initiate the process to undertake construction of one of the largest dams in Pakistan.

Pakistan and China signed a memorandum of understanding for the Bunji Dam in 2009. The accord was signed between the Ministry of Water and Power and Three Gorges Project Corporation of China.

Wapda Chairman Syed Raghib Abbas Shah broke this news in a meeting with Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiana, while discussing various Wapda projects located in the province.

Speaking on the occasion, Shah said that mega-dams such as Bunji and Diamer-Bhasha will not only help stabilise the economy but also help usher a new era of social and economic development in G-B. He also praised the G-B government’s cooperation in implementing Wapda projects in the region.

“Wapda will fulfil all its commitments during the construction of the projects in the province and resettlement of the displaced,” said Shah.

During the meeting it was also announced that the G-B government will complete the ground survey and geographical mapping through satellites of Diamer-Bhasha Dam project in two weeks.

The matter pertaining to handing over the government land to Wapda also came under discussionto which the Wapda chairman said that in view of the significance of resettlement of the displaced people due to construction of the Diamer-Bhasha project, priority should be given to acquire land for construction of model villages in the region.

Deliberations were also made about the Satpara Dam, Harpo, Bashoo and Phander hydropower projects. It was decided in the meeting that a study will jointly be conducted by Wapda and G-B to address the issues related to Satpara Dam.

The study will also assess the future requirements of water in Skardu and adjacent areas, their fulfilment through Shatung Nullah, its environmental impact and a way forward for the purpose.

The meeting also agreed to devise a perpetual operation and management methodology for Satpara Dam Project with active involvement of the province.

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5 Comments

  1. Engineering design and tender documents of 7,100-MW Bunji Hydropower Project ready, says WAPDA

    Islamabad, May 6 (APP): On Monday, the Water and Power Development Authority (W.A.P.D.A) announced that it has completed detailed engineering design and tender documents of the 7,100-megawatt (MW) Bunji Hydropower Project, and will soon initiate the process to undertake construction of one of the largest dams in Pakistan.
    Naya.Gilgit.Baltistan Demand only one, if such Project’s along with Basha Diamer Dam, and all are Part of Pakistan than why not we have constitutional Presence in Assembly, Senate, Commission of Common Interest, Federal Institutions Body.
    If WAPDA being Federation Body or Office can work in GB, it our Right to ask for Presence in Constitutional Offices, Setup and Infrastructure.
    What will be Profit Sharing agreement and Price Settlement Mechanism?
    Still such Projects and construction of Dams and Infrastructure will make Pakistan and Gilgit.Baltistan Prosperous, Peaceful, and Progressive.
    Naya.Gilgit.Baltistan, Constitutional Part of Pakistan!!!

  2. This fresh update on Bunji project has not yet so far been reflected in other news papers. Credit goes to Pamirtimes.

  3. All know that the shortfall of Pakistan is this time 7000 MW. if this project is started and completed at the time the shortage of electricity in Pakistan can be controlled……

  4. very late and slow pace on the subject, I remember the project was initiated by the government of Pervaiz Musharraf prior to year 2007 but we are still there where we were in 2007 and the same is with the construction of Diamer Basha dam, if i recall the basha dam site was first time inaugurated by Pervaiz Musharraf on 26th April 2006.

  5. Gilgit Baltistan does not have any other sources of energy such as Oil & Gas or Firewood.The weather in winters is extreme and the mostly poor population have to either brave the winters or buy exorbitantly expensive kerosene Oil, wood or LPG Cylinders for warming and cooking purposes. If the Government has decided to build mega dams in this poor region for overcoming the shortage of electricity in Pakistan , it must consider provision of free electricity to the people of Gilgit Baltistan in addition to royalties or subsidies in view of the remoteness of the area and to bring this area at par with the rest of the country. The benefit of free electricity will go to every household who have lived for the past sixty six years (More than half a century ) under extreme conditions.
    With a change of Government and a hope of reduction in corruption we hope and pray this project is undertaken as soon as possible.
    I have served at Jaglot and believe that the region has a tremendous potential and the people of the area are equally hardworking and sincerely honest. If and when these resources are properly and seriously tapped, Gilgit Baltistan shall become the Switzerland of Asia.
    Gilgit Baltistan also has tremendous amounts of unexplored mineral resources which are lying unexploited.
    The Government must also consider forming industrial areas at suitable places where factories could be set up with Government assistance and the cheap electricity along with excellent manpower available could be utilized to bolster the exports of Pakistan. This will consequently bring about a Social and economic revolution in this area. An economic uplift shall also improve the law and order situation and bring about harmony and peace to the region.

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