The Office of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation for the Construction of GERD said 1.3 billion Birr has been secured from various income generating schemes for the construction of the Grand Dam last fiscal year.

 

Office Deputy Director-General Fikirte Tamir said the stated sum was obtained from bond sales and donation, lottery, 8100 text message and sports activities from Ethiopians and the diaspora and other schemes.

 

Fikirte added that pledges are still being made by the public to support the building of the dam through finance , knowledge , material and labor.

 

The Office planned to raise 1.8 billion Birr from bond sales, lottery, exhibitions and music concerts as well as sports festivals this fiscal year, she said.

 

According to her, out of the total 12.4 billion Birr pledged till last fiscal year, close to 8.8 billion Birr has been collected.

 

Over 216 million people have participated in natural conservation activities covering 4.7 million hectares of land along the dam in the same period, it was learned.

 

Source : allafrica.com