The recent news in focus has been the signing of a contract by Pakistan. This agreement is with a joint venture between China Power, a Chinese state-run firm and the Frontier Works Organisation, a commercial arm of Pakistan’s military. The contract encompasses the construction of the Diamer-Bhasha dam and includes specifics such as the building of a diversion system, the main dam, an access bridge and the 21MW Tangir hydropower project.
Diamer-Bhasha Dam: A Brief Overview
The Diamer-Bhasha Dam is strategically located on the Indus River in northern Pakistan. It is nestled between the Kohistan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Diamer district in Gilgit Baltistan. The dam carries massive potential with a storage capacity of 8.1 Million Acre Feet (MAF) and the ability to generate power up to 4500 MW. At its height of 272 meters, it will hold the title of the tallest Roller Compact Concrete (RCC) dam worldwide. The total financial outlay for this dam project is estimated around 1,406.5 billion Pakistani rupees, with a completion date set for 2028.
Objectives of the Project
The main purpose of constructing the Diamer-Bhasha dam is to meet the escalating water and electricity needs of the country. The dam is expected to serve as a significant storage facility for the country, supplementing the Mangla and Tarbela dams. Furthermore, it aims to alleviate the severe irrigation shortage observed in the Indus basin irrigation system. The dam would also aid in reducing the intensity, quantum, duration, magnitude and regularity of floods in the River Indus downstream. Besides its primary functions, the dam is also expected to stimulate development and create job opportunities, thus augmenting the availability of water and clean energy.
History and Controversies
The dam project was initially approved in 2010, but faced several delays. The primary reason was the withdrawal of support from international lending agencies due to opposition from India. A significant part of the dam is located in Gilgit-Baltistan, a region disputed by India, thereby causing potential unrest.
India’s Stand on the Issue
India has expressed strong opposition to this move, asserting that the Gilgit-Baltistan region forms part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was unlawfully occupied by Pakistan. India has continuously voiced protests and shared concerns with both China and Pakistan regarding any such ventures within the Indian territories under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. Notably, in the past, India had opposed projects undertaken jointly by Pakistan and China in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
