EGEHID socializes the La Gina Dam Project

This Egehid release was published using machine translation.

PERAVIA (Dominican Republic).- The Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company (EGEHID) held in the municipality of Baní, the first public hearing to explain to society the characteristics and benefits of the La Gina dam, to be built in this demarcation an estimated cost of US$ 80 million (more than RD$ 4,500 million).

The general administrator of EGEHID, engineer Rafael Salazar, explained that through this important infrastructure, some 50,000 homes will be supplied with drinking water, 19,000 acres of agricultural and livestock land will be irrigated, flood control will be guaranteed, in addition to the hydroelectric energy production.

Community groups, agricultural producers, neighborhood associations, representatives of the Church, inhabitants of the La Gina community, environmentalists, among others, participated in this first public hearing, held at the Municipal Town Hall of Baní.

This is the “Project for multiple use of the waters of the upper basin of the Baní River”, which in this work session details about its main components and scope were made known to the Banile society, while important feedback was received. .

Among the benefited towns are El llano, Boca Canasta, Sombrero, Matanza, Escondido, Mata Gorda, El Fundo and Villa Guerra.
Salazar reported that the environmental impact studies will conclude within the next 45 days, to begin the bidding process, which will allow the work to be awarded.

He said that the work planned to be delivered in 2026 is of great importance, given that it will take pressure off the Valdesia-Santo Domingo aqueduct, and will also contain the floods caused by the flooding of the Baní River.

He explained that the dam will have a flow of 11.4 million gallons per day, through the construction of a water treatment plant located 500 meters downstream from the dam, which will be equipped with a pumping system.

In response to concerns expressed by those present about the conditions of the Baní River, which has reduced its flow considerably, engineer Máximo de Oleo, deputy administrator of EGEHID, explained that the aqueduct is designed to store the waters of its floods.

He highlighted that the river floods several times a year, which, added to the waters that remain in its channel, are enough to keep the project operating optimally.

Another concern expressed by those present was their fate as residents of the area, as well as the properties located in the flood zone.

In this regard, they were assured that each person will receive dignified and fair treatment, that they will not lose their property and that they will be provided with properties and spaces in which they will not miss what they had, so that they can continue with their daily lives without inconvenience.

The holding of the second hearing will be announced soon, in which the results of a survey that was carried out in the first hearing will also be announced, among other aspects.

DAM LOCATION

The dam will be located on the Baní River, 5.6 kilometers north of the city, it will have a storage capacity of 11 million cubic meters of water and guarantees the uses for which it will be built.

In addition to the engineers Salazar and De Oleo, the person in charge of Environmental Management of EGEHID, General Radhamés Lora Salcedo, the deputy administrator Miguel Vásquez, among other directors of the institution, were present for EGEHID.

From Baní were Mayor Santo Ramírez; the vice mayor, Adriana Soto; the elected representative Carmen Leyda Escarfuller, as well as authorities from the Ministry of the Environment and the National Institute of Drinking Water and Sewage (INAPA).