News
Saturday, January 08, 2011
US to provide $66m for Gomal Zam, Satpara Dam projects
* US special envoy Ruggiero says dams will provide power to more than 50,000 households
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: US Acting Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Frank Ruggiero signed two agreements on Friday to provide $66 million for the completion of Gomal Zam and Satpara Dam projects. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Andrew Sisson, Water and Power Development Authority Chairman Shakeel Durrani and Ministry of Water and Power Secretary Javed Iqbal also signed the agreement.
Speaking on the occasion, Ruggiero said these dams, which would provide over 35 megawatts of power to nearly 55,000 households in South Waziristan and Skardu, were examples of the US government’s commitment to help meet Pakistan’s energy needs.
He said, “Last year’s devastating floods demonstrated the need for flood control infrastructure. These two multipurpose dams will control floodwaters, provide electricity, and store water for irrigation and household use for downstream villages.”
The US is providing $40 million to help complete the Gomal Zam multipurpose dam in South Waziristan. The project will provide 17.4 megawatts of electricity to power 25,000 households and mitigate an estimated $2.6 million of potential flood damage annually. The Gomal Zam Dam will have the capacity to store enough water to irrigate 191,000 acres of farmland.
The US is also providing $26 million to complete the Satpara multipurpose dam project, located in Skardu (Gilgit-Baltistan). The dam will provide 17.7 megawatts of power to nearly 30,000 households and help alleviate load shedding in Skardu. It can store enough water to irrigate over 15,000 acres of land and can provide 3.1 million gallons per day of potable drinking water. After completion of the dam, the region’s annual agricultural output is expected to increase more than four-fold, generating about $6 million in additional economic benefit to the community each year.
Ruggiero said these projects would provide energy solutions and improve the quality of life of people in FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan. The US government was committed to a long-term partnership with Pakistan and would continue to support projects that benefit the Pakistani people and bring economic development to these critical areas of the country, he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk