The Gidabo Irrigation Dam Project, built at a cost of birr 1.26 billion, has been officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and now goes operational.
Present at the inauguration ceremony were Sileshi Bekele (PhD), the Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity; President of Oromia Region, Lemma Megersa; President of the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ (SNNP) Region, Million Mathewos, among other government officials and other guests.
This newly inaugurated irrigation dam, situated on the border between the regions of Oromia and SNNP, can hold upto 62.5 million cubic meters of water.
The project, which began in 2010 on the Gidabo River, was originally estimated to cost birr 258 million. However, various changes have been made to the project design which in turn caused the project to expand, while also incurring a total cost of birr 1.26 billion.
The Gidabo Irrigation Dam now stands 25.8 meters high and 335 meters long, and is now expected to develop over 13,425 hectares of land. This will be of benefit to over ten thousand farming households and create new jobs for over 192,000 young workers.
Speaking during the inauguration, Prime Minister Abiy said the dam will enhance the social and economic interaction of the peoples of Oromia and SNNP. He also added that the dam will be instrumental in promoting tourism and fishery, while also helping conserve the natural environment of the area, including the agro-ecology.
During the inaugural ceremony, Premier Abiy said the dam project will enhance the social and economic interaction of the peoples of Oromia and SNNP. In his remark, the prime minister also emphasized that his government “will continue its efforts to create peaceful and prosperous Ethiopia through constructing similar projects across the country.”
In October 2018, Prime Minister Abiy had also inaugurated the Rib Irrigation Dam, built at a cost of birr 3.8 billion.
Top Image: PM Abiy Inaugurating the Gidabo Irrigation Dam
Source: ENA, Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Twitter Page
Image Source: Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Twitter Page
