22 February 2004	Sunday	01 Muharram 1425

ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: Mangla Dam raising project, costing about Rs63 billion, will begin on schedule from May 2004 after completion of all necessary requirements, says Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.

The minister said here on Saturday that the project would provide an opportunity to increase the dam's water storage capacity, enabling it to meet the future water needs.

Wapda would annually pay the AJK government more than Rs750 million as royalty, net profit and water-use charges in four equal instalments, he said.

"Wapda has already started paying the AJK government from June 2003 in accordance with the agreement reached between federal government, the AJK government and Wapda regarding the Mangla Raising Project," he said.

The committee for the project has decided to hold regular meetings to review the progress in connection with various decisions to speed up the implementation of uplift schemes related to the Mangla raising project, including a survey for the New Mirpur City along with four model towns and construction as well as upgradation of five grid stations in various parts of the Azad Kashmir.

A directive has already been issued to all concerned departments to increase cooperation with each others aimed at accelerating the resettlement plan, including compensation as well as rehabilitation of the affected families, he said.

The minister said: "I have asked Wapda authorities to submit a progress report about the project ... about tendering awarding process besides other plans."

Ten joint ventures have been prequalified by Wapda and issued tender documents of them. Tender awarding process would be completed by April 2003 after finalising official formalities.

Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao expressed his dissatisfaction over development schemes for AJK by Wapda through Islamabad Electric Supply Company for the construction as well as upgradation of grid stations in various parts of AJK.

The minister directed Wapda officials to start the construction of Dodial and Chhattarpari grid stations on a priority basis along with the construction of the Dharn Gali bridge.

According to the agreement, Wapda would be responsible to construct the bridge with a cost of about Rs200 million.

The federal government has already allocated Rs3,000 million for the Mangla raising project in the budget for the current financial year.-APP