Mohsin Babbar

ISLAMABAD: Contrary to the government's efforts to expedite process to start construction on non-controversial large water reservoirs on River Indus, the construction of Diameer-Basha Dam project (DBDP) might get delayed for two more years.

According to official sources, the work on DBDP might not start from 2008, even after the completion of detailed engineering design.

Basha-Diameer Dam is located on the Indus River, about 200 miles upstream of Tarbela Dam and just downstream of Chilas Town. Its catchments are beyond the range of monsoons.

The average annual flow of Indus at the point is 50 Million Acre Feet (MAF), which is entirely water from melting snow.

A recently-prepared government report has already revealed that the site of largest mega water reservoir project of Basha-Diameer dam in northern Pakistan has been hit by 863 major earthquake tremors.

"As the site of the Basha-Diameer dam in the Northern areas and frontier province is placed in the high seismic zone, the government is considering conducting extensive seismic survey by involving international experts," a senior official told The Post.

"Supervised by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), the study might take two years up to 2009-10. Resultantly, the construction of the dam might start afterwards," official added.

Although the government is of the view that the completion period of DBDP has not been extended and it is progressing according to schedule, but officials said the recent visit of high-level World Bank delegation also acquired seismic details of the project.

The WB delegation also emphasized upon the government to undertake seismic study on the basis of international standards so that the structure could be ensured maximum protection from possible earthquake tremors.

The delegation was told that the site of DBDP is located at the collision boundary of the Asian tectonic plates.

At present a micro network is being established by WAPDA to monitor the seismic activity specifically near the dam site apart from four monitors, which are already working to record earthquake in the area.

Initially, the feasibility consultants formulated a database, containing 863 instrumentally-recorded earthquakes of magnitude four or more in a radius of 200 kilometres of the project area during the period 1927 to 2001.

Later on the design consultants of the project have extended it up to 2006 and are in process of establishing seismic parameters for safe design of the project.

According to the official, before the start of construction of Basha reservoir, at least six to eight years are needed to complete all kinds of extensive studies, research, a comprehensive investigation on its high seismic risk location and resettlement of the inhabitants of the area.

After the completion of this process, another six years would be needed to complete the entire project, that too if the things moved smoothly and in line with the originally conceived plan.

It is expected to take at least 10 to 12 years (from 2009-10 to 2019-20) in construction, the proposed DBDP is 281 meters high and 990 metres long having a gross storage capacity of 9.04 MAF and live capacity of 7.30 MAF.

The project can generate up to 4500 megawatts of electricity.

Its construction would lead to the resettlement of 24,350 people residing in 32 villages in the proposed location of the project. The reservoir would also submerge 110 kilometres of the Karakorum Highway.