Office of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of GERD disclosed that it has collected 1.2 billon birr for the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in the just-ended Ethiopian fiscal year, revealed.
It plans to generate 1.5 billion birr from the public this Ethiopian fiscal year.
According to the office, it had planned to collect 1.8 billion birr last fiscal year and secured 1.2 billon birr.
Some 1.1 billion birr was collected from domestic bond sales and donation, 129 million birr from the Diaspora, and 29 million birr from various income generation activities, the report indicated.
Since the launching of the project in 2012, over 4.7 billion birr was raised by public servants and private employees and the Diasporas contributed more than 783 million birr.
To date, the public has contributed more than 10 billion birr for the construction of the dam.
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairperson of the National Council, Demeke Mekonnen said public servants and the public have rendered immense contributions towards raising fund for the construction of the dam but more fund could have been raised by carrying out agitations based on the interest of the public.
He stressed that it is possible to collect more revenue by properly managing and accelerating community mobilization from federal up to kebele level.
National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of GERD Secretariat Director General, Roman G/silasie stated that more than 58 percent of the construction of the dam is completed.
Some 28,000 persons from all walks of life, including the Diaspora, ambassadors, students and members of the armed forces have visited the project site of the dam, she added.
Moreover, extensive catchment management has been conducted through the participation of more than 19 million citizens to prevent the dam from being filled with silt. (ENA)