GILGIT, May 6: The 5,500MW Bunji Dam has been renamed as Rondu Bunji Dam, which had been the longstanding demand of the people.

The decision was taken at a meeting attended by Wapda chairman and the Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary in Lahore, officials said.

The officials said acquisition of land for construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam also came under discussion at the meeting. The issue of payment to the owners of the land acquired for the dam was also discussed, and Wapda was asked to expedite the process.

Several protest demonstrations were held by residents of Rondu subdivision of Skardu district, demanding renaming of the dam, as 60 per cent of the total project area is from Rondu, while rest belongs to Bunji subdivision of Astor district.