ADDIS ABABA– Over 383 million Birr has been secured from various income generating schemes for the construction of the Abbay Dam in the last three months, the coordinating office disclosed.
Office of the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation to the Construction of Abbay Dam Public Relations Director Hailu Abraham told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA)that the stated amount of money was obtained from domestic bond sales, donation and lottery, SMS scheme and other fund raising activities.
The director added that pledges are still being made by the public to support the building of the dam financially, professionally and in other ways. “For instance, some 1.8 million Birr was collected from Abbay Dam Tour in Sidama State which was concluded on December 9, 2023 and the trophy was passed to Somali State.
He anticipated the public’s overwhelming support for the Abbay Dam Trophy Tour in Somali State and called on the society to maintain the finance until the completion of the iconic project.
Hailu further revealed the office’s plan to raise about 1.5 billion Birr from various income generating programs and public mobilization campaigns in the current fiscal year.
“Ethiopians have been extending continuous support to the dam, which is expected to be the engine of the country’s industrialization, and contributed over 18 billion Birr since its launching to last October.”
Revealing the office’s plan to hold a large-scale nationwide public campaign in March 2024, the director called on the society to keep the support till the completion of the mega dam.
Different experts expressed the opinion that the dam under construction by Ethiopia is laudable as it is meant to benefit all the stakeholders and integrate the region.
BY MISGANAW ASNAKE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 3 JANUARY 2024
