October 1, 2003	Wednesday	Sha’aban 4, 1424

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KARACHI, Sept 30: The government intends to sanction Rs7.5 billion for the construction of the greater Thal canal during the next three years and another Rs21.5 billion is expected to be provided during 2006-2011.

Of the 24 water projects included in the 2003-04 public sector development programme (PSDP), the greater Thal canal receives the highest sanction to ensure its completion at a total cost of Rs30.46 billion within the 10-year perspective development plan period by 2010-11.

Demonstrations are being held and processions taken out across Sindh to protest against the construction of the canal, which, engineers say, will further deprive the province of water. The Sindh Assembly has also passed a resolution against the construction of the canal.

A reference document for the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), held on Saturday at Islamabad, reveals that the government sanctioned Rs1 billion for Thal canal in 2003-04, Rs3 billion in 2004-05 and Rs3.5 billion during 2005-06. For the remaining cost of Rs21.48 billion, the government is expected to provide funds during 2006 to 2011.

Against the generous sanction of Rs6.5 billion during 2004-06 for the Thal canal, the extension of the right bank outfall drain-II is expected to receive only Rs4 billion during the period and would need Rs8.55 billion for completion.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf has inaugurated the project and ordered its completion by June 2005, which obviously is not possible.

The Ecnec meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, approved 28 mega projects with a cost of Rs193 billion. These included three water projects with an outlay of about Rs95 billion — the Mangla Dam plan, Rs62.5 billion; the Kachhi canal, Rs32.45 billion and the Sabakzai dam project at a cost of Rs1 billion in the Northern Areas.

Sources said Sindh Planning and Development Minister Shoib Bokhari, who attended the meeting, questioned the intentions of the federal government. They said the provincial minister expressed doubt about the federal government’s sincerity in completing the projects included in the PSDP.

The Planning Commission document mentions the details of the Mangla Dam raising project, being taken up at Rs62.5 billion cost, for which the government provided Rs3 billion in the current fiscal year’s PSDP. The raising of wall will augment water reservoir capacity of the dam, for which Sindh is asking for share from the additional water.

The document shows a total cost of over Rs150 billion for nine water projects, including the Thal canal. The government has provided Rs6.8 billion for the nine projects in the 2003-04 PSDP. There is an indication of Rs10.43 billion sanction for the projects during 2004-05 and Rs14.44 billion during 2005-06. More than Rs78 billion would be needed for financing the projects during 2006 to 2011.

Experts estimate a need for more than Rs450 billion if the government at any stage decides to take up the Bhasha dam and other water projects in the PSDP.

A look at the much touted Rs160 billion PSDP for 2003-04 shows that it includes 24 water projects, for which a total amount of Rs14.68 billion have been sanctioned.