U.S to Provide $81 Million for the Construction of Stage 1 of Kurram Tangi Dam Project

[Zibago]

U.S to Provide $81 Million for the Construction of Stage 1 of Kurram Tangi Dam Project

Islamabad, December 14, 2016: The United States signed an agreement to provide over 8.5 billion rupees to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for the construction of the Kaitu Weir project in North Waziristan Agency of FATA. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and WAPDA signed the agreement at a ceremony held in Islamabad. American Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale attended the ceremony.

“America and Pakistan have a long history of cooperation in the energy sector,” Ambassador Hale said in his remarks. “The agreement signed today builds on decades of shared effort to meet Pakistan’s energy needs and help improve the lives of millions of Pakistanis.”

The Kaitu Weir is Stage 1 of the larger Kurram Tangi Dam Project (KTDP). By completing the construction of KTDP-Stage 1, more than 16,000 acres of agricultural land will be irrigated and an additional 18 megawatts of electricity will be produced, enough to benefit 100,000 Pakistanis. Under KTDP-Stage 1, funds will be transferred to WAPDA to support the construction of a weir on Kaitu River, the Shertalla and Spairaga canals, two powerhouses, a transmission line, housing accommodations for construction and operational staff, and an office building for dam construction and operation activities.

Since 2009, the United States Government has invested more than 53.1 billion rupees to develop Pakistan’s power sector, benefitting more than 28 million Pakistanis and adding more than 2,400 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. This total includes 1,013 megawatts from new or rehabilitated dams and thermal power plants, and 1,447 megawatts from improvements in the transmission and distribution system.

https://pk.usembassy.gov/u-s-provide-81-million-construction-stage-1-kurram-tangi-dam-project/

 

[Dawood Ibrahim]

Tribesmen protest against Kurram Tangi Dam

Amidst drums and traditional dance called ‘Athanar’, dozens of tribal elders from Shewa Tehsil of North Waziristan on Monday continued their protest in Peshawar against the construction of proposed Kurram Tangi Dam.

The tribesmen from Kabul Khel clan of Utmanzai Wazir tribe took to protests after the signing of an agreement between Pakistan and United States to construct a dam on December 14, 2016.

According to the agreement, the US government will finance Kurram Tangi Dam, which happens to be just on boundary between North Waziristan and Bannu District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The US government agreed to provide 81 million US dollars for the construction of dam which will irrigating over 16,000 acres of barren land of Bannu and Lakki Marwat districts, along with generating 18 MW of electricity.

Faqir Mohammad Sultan, who is leading the protest, told Voice of America that the dam was going to affect around 400,000 people. He recalled that tribesmen headed by his late father migrated to Afghanistan in protest when the then government started work on the same dam site in late 1960s. Later, the protesting tribal elders returned on the assurances of government.

The tribal elder said that they will not allow construction of the dam at the cost of their displacement and urged the government to review its decision.

During the day-long protest in front of Peshawar Press Club, tribesmen wearing traditional dresses and turbans also took to traditional ‘Athanar’ dance from time to time, presenting a much needed respite to the weary eyes and ears.

Other than these protestors, people from all over North Waziristan are also demanding their early repatriation and re-allocation of their residential and commercial properties. Not all affectees of operation Zarb-i-Azab, also termed Temporarily Displaced People (TDPs), have been rehabilitated. Some 37-40 per cent of displaced tribesmen have yet to be repatriated

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/blog/2016/12/26/tribesmen-protest-against-kurram-tangi-dam/

 

[Skyliner]

USAID is another indirect game to grab countries by their balls, anyway good for local farmers.

 

[LeGenD]

USAID is another indirect game to grab countries by their balls, anyway good for local farmers.

What do you mean?