PESHAWAR, Nov 16: The provincial government has decided to add some more water sector projects to its current annual development programme as “non-ADP-funded projects” to avail over Rs494 million Japanese grant, according to official sources.

The government of Japan, which was recently requested by Islamabad for financial assistance to develop water storage schemes in different parts of the country, has shown keen interest in developing small dams and delay action dams in the Frontier province.

But to avail itself of the grant, the provincial government was required to incorporate some new water sector schemes in its development plan for fiscal 2003-04, to meet the officially laid down procedural requirements.

According to the sources, the decision to include new schemes in the ADP would cause trouble to the provincial government as it was required by the World Bank, its major lending agency, to restructure its development plan by bringing down the number of schemes from existing over 1,150 to a reasonable level.

But the provincial government ignored the anticipated backlash from the World Bank which has linked the release of its second tranche of the structural adjustment credit to the NWFP with a cut in the number of uplift schemes. The provincial government preferred to do the needful to become eligible for receiving the Japanese grant.

In response to the request for providing financial assistance to strengthen the provincial water sector, the Islamabad-based representatives of the government of Japan, had shown interest to extend grant on priority basis for the execution of some of the already identified plans in the NWFP, the sources said.

The projects identified for the purpose include one each small dam at Kundal in Swabi district, Palai in Charsadda district and Sanam in Dir district. Small dams and delay action dams in the southern districts of the province also form part of the programme to be executed with the Japanese grant help.

Total cost of the proposed projects has been estimated at over Rs558 million of which a major chunk of Rs494 million would come from Japan as the grant and the remaining would be arranged by the NWFP government. The provincial share would be contributed to arrange land required for the projects and develop infrastructure including construction of roads, laying of electricity lines, etc.

Of the total estimated cost, about Rs200 million would be required for the construction of the Kundal dam, Rs210 million for the Palai dam, over Rs100 million for the Sanam dam. Whereas, Rs48 million has been estimated to be required to execute small and delay action dams in the southern parts of the province.

The NWFP irrigation department, according to the sources, had recently been asked by the federal authorities concerned to provide PC-Is and PC-IIs of the said projects after getting them approved by the provincial planning and development department.

As the Sanam dam and Palai dam were made part of the ADP 2003-04, therefore the provincial development authorities granted approval for their execution in its meeting held on Aug 25, 2003.

Through a summary of the irrigation department, NWFP, Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani was requested to direct the authorities concerned of the provincial government for granting approval to include the remaining two schemes, Kundal dam and water sector projects for the southern districts, in the current ADP as “non-ADP schemes”, said the sources.

In this respect, the provincial chief minister and chief secretary ignored the reservation expressed by the finance department, NWFP, which took the stand that the decision might add to the problems for the government in view of the World Bank’s reservations.

However, the chief minister and chief secretary decided to okay incorporation of the remaining two schemes in the ADP as “non-ADP schemes” to avoid loosing the Japanese grant. The province could have lost the amount if these were made part of the ADP.

In line with the government’s decision, the irrigation department would now require to make allocations for these schemes from the funds earmarked for other development schemes.

Mushaira: A Hindko Naatia Mushaira (poetry recital) was held here at the Yakatoot Chowk, which was organized by the Gandhara Hindko Board, APP adds.

Hindko poets from various districts of the NWFP participated in the function to pay poetic tributes to the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him).

The Hindko poetic sittings used to be a distinctive feature of the cultural life in Peshawar, and the Yakatoot Chowk was a favourite place for such gatherings in early 1950s.

The Gandhara Hindko Board has revived an old tradition by announcing to hold a Naatia Mushaira in the heart of the walled city of Peshawar.