ICDBMD Discusses Land Purchase for Dams

The Implementation Committee on Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand Dams (ICDBMD) convened a meeting on Tuesday in Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan. The meeting aimed to address critical matters concerning land acquisition and resettlement for local communities affected by the dams.

Commissioner Astore Division provided an overview of progress made since the previous meeting, focusing on the timely payment of compensation to those whose lands were acquired under the “Missing and Double Chula Package.” This included detailing compliance with decisions from prior meetings regarding these issues.

Mr. GM (Land Acquisition and Resettlement) from Wapda shared updates on leftover land, mutations, Ginni Pozzolan, Tangir Hydropower Project, and border disputes along the Indus River’s right bank. Discussions also centered around the “2025 Agreement,” a crucial document between the federal government and the Diamer Ulema Committee.

ICDBMD/Wapda Chairman Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Saeed presided over the meeting in Astore, emphasizing the importance of completing the project by 2025 for Pakistan’s water, food, and energy security. He stressed that all stakeholders must cooperate seamlessly to ensure the smooth execution of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project.

Underlining this necessity, Lt Gen Saeed highlighted Wapda’s commitment to implementing the “2025 Agreement” faithfully while underlining the need for locals’ active participation in facilitating land acquisition and related processes. He urged G-B administration officials to expedite these procedures and called upon local residents to embrace their roles as stakeholders, enabling timely completion of the project without any disruptions.