In a significant achievement, the Indus River has been redirected to a tunnel at the construction site of the Dasu Hydro Power Project in the Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The redirection was carried out successfully, according to a spokesperson from WAPDA.
Following the successful redirection of the river, work has commenced on the construction of a temporary dam. Once the temporary dam is complete, construction of the main dam will begin. This is an important milestone for the Dasu Hydro Power Project, which is expected to generate significant amounts of electricity for the region.
داسو ڈیم : چینی کمپنی داسو ڈیم پر دریائے سندھ کو 50 منٹ تک روکنے میں کامیاب ہو گئے۔منصوبہ نئے مرحلے میں داخل ہو گیا ۔ دریا کے پانی کو ڈیم کے ٹنل میں کامیابی سے منتقل کر دیا گیا۔ pic.twitter.com/3YPm8NjmU8— China-Pakistan Friendship (@DostiChina) February 19, 2023
According to WAPDA, the construction of the second diversion tunnel is on track, with an expected completion date of mid-April this year. During the high-flow season, both diversion tunnels will be used to channel the water of the Indus River.
The spokesperson further added that the Dasu Hydro Power Project, which has a capacity of 4,320 megawatts, will be completed in two phases. This is a significant undertaking that will help to meet the growing demand for electricity in the region. The successful redirection of the Indus River to the tunnel at the construction site is a major step forward in this project, and the completion of the diversion tunnels will be another important milestone.
The construction of the Dasu Dam, a significant hydroelectric gravity dam on the Indus River near Dasu in the Kohistan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan, is currently underway. The project is a vital element of the Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority's (WAPDA) Water Vision 2025.
The project, which commenced in 2017, faced delays due to disputes over funding and land acquisition. Work resumed in 2019, with the government of Imran Khan deciding to proceed with the construction of the project. The World Bank contributed $700 million towards the $4.2 billion project cost, reflecting the project's importance in reducing Pakistan's reliance on non-renewable energy.
The Dasu Dam project is expected to have a capacity of 4,320 megawatts and will be completed in two phases. The successful redirection of the Indus River to the tunnel at the construction site is a significant achievement that marks a major milestone in the project's progress. The completion of the diversion tunnels is expected to be another crucial milestone in the near future.
The Dasu Dam, which will be 242 meters (794 feet) tall, is set to support a 4,320-megawatt hydropower station built in two stages of 2,160 megawatts each. The power plant is expected to begin generating electricity in late 2024, with stage I set to be completed by early 2025. Water from the reservoir will be channeled to the power station located approximately 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) downstream, with power generation from the first stage scheduled for 2026-27.
However, due to land acquisition problems, the Covid pandemic, and other factors, the expected completion of the Dasu Stage-I Hydropower Project has been pushed to FY 2026-27, according to a report by WAPDA. This is a delay from the initial target of completing the first stage of the project by 2025. Despite these challenges, the successful redirection of the Indus River to the tunnel at the construction site represents a significant step forward for the project. The construction of the diversion tunnels and the completion of the Dasu Dam project will play a crucial role in meeting Pakistan's increasing demand for electricity while reducing its reliance on non-renewable energy.
Author: Alisha Hussain
Publisher: Hamza Rajput
Designer: Umer
Discover: Subtain Ali
