ADDIS ABABA – Office of national council for the coordination of public participation on the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) announces that the public participation in supporting the dam is continued. Office of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation Communication Director on the Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD)Hailu Abraham said that, a few months ago especially before July the participation of the society was somewhat, slow because of the financial harms in relation with corruption.
However, currently the contribution of the society is continued in a normal ways as before especially after December. As before the media are expected to tell citizens and members of the Ethiopian community about the benefit of the dam so that they keep on reinforcing the execution of this mega project Hailu, stated.
According to him, now society is regaining trust and feeling towards the GERD is at a good step. Still starting from July to December only the citizens of Ethiopia were contributed over 484 billion 72,000 birr for the construction of the project. This indicates that the contribution and support of the society is continuing as before.
Whatever the challenge the government and the people of Ethiopia are committed to finalize the GERD as per schedule he indicted. Project Manager of GERD Engineer Kifle Horo told The Ethiopian Herald that, the project which costs 5 billion USD, Ethiopia is undertaking on River Nile will kick start supplying energy in December 2020.
Currently 66 percent of the total construction of the dam is concluded and the project will be operational as per schedule, he noted. Engineer Kifle stated that, the government is expected to render the dam fully operational by the end of 2022. So, in a stepped up manner, people of Ethiopia should continue adding elements to the dam to actualizeit in the planned time.
He stated that, the project has been challenged by lots of internal and external problems for the past seven years. With undivided attention and all-out effort, citizens must back up the flagship project. Ethiopians and the government of Ethiopia must focus on the project to accomplish it on a planned time and the citizens will be expected to discharge their responsibility and give due attention for the accomplishment of the project.
When the GERD goes operational, it will be Africa’s largest hydroelectric power plant built by Ethiopians. It will help to troubleshoot Ethiopia’s and Africa’s power shortage.
The Ethiopian Herald, March 30/2019
BY HAILE DEMEKE
