Federal Minster for Water Resources chaired a meeting of 4,320 MW Dasu Hydropower Project’s Steering Committee on 16.12.2021, where high level officials of World Bank, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ministry of Energy, and WAPDA were in attendance, in Ministry of Water Resources, Islamabad.
The Committee was briefed that 4185 out of 5051 acres of land has been successfully acquired by the district administration and land acquisition collector Dasu, for the project. The committee directed to complete the acquisition of remaining 866 acres, up to 30.06.2022.
The representatives of World Bank also expressed their satisfaction that the project authorities and district administration have removed the bottlenecks in resuming the work at Dasu HPP, in the aftermath of the security incident of 14.07.2021.
The Committee took notice of the pending resettlement dues of affectees of Dasu. The Minister for Water Resources directed the district administration and WAPDA to resolve the issue within the period of three (03) months.
The Federal Minister directed WAPDA to ensure a fool proof security arrangement in collaboration with relevant stakeholders at Dasu Project site.
He also reiterated that the rightful demands of the local residents of district Kohistan should be met on immediate basis,in accordance with the relevant rules and policies.
Speaking on the occasion the Federal Minister said that Dasu Hydropower Project was being constructed on the River Indus upstream of Dasu town and the project would help to lower the overall cost of energy generation in Pakistan, benefiting millions of energy users by making electricity more affordable for households and productive sectors, such as manufacturing and agriculture.
He further added that the project would also contribute to the socioeconomic development of the communities in Dasu and surrounding areas of the Upper Kohistan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
