RAWALPINDI, March 4: A technical team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is arriving here on March 9 to review the cost of an environment project and discuss terms and conditions with the government officials for financing the scheme
, official sources told Dawn on Thursday.
The team will hold separate meetings with officials of the Punjab government, Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and a state-run engineering and consultative organization, Nespak.
The team will discuss technical problems and loan awarding mechanism of the Rawalpindi Environmental Improvement Project (REIP) with the departments concerned. The REIP is the second phase of the recently completed ADB-funded over Rs4 billion urban water supply and sanitation project (UWSSP).
The extension and development of Nullah Leh was part of the same project. The ADB had provided 91 per cent of the total cost of UWSSP in the form of soft-term loan while the remaining had come from Punjab government.
However, sources privy to the REIP said the bank was likely to fund only 80 per cent of the estimated cost of the project, which meant that the provincial government would have to arrange the remaining amount.
Similarly, the bank has yet to finalize the terms and conditions of loan for REIP and it is likely that it will come up with some strict conditions for its financial assistance.
An amount of $100 million has already been estimated for the REIP, of which the bank has shown willingness to provide $80 million. However, keeping in view the bulk of REIP and the latest inclusion of some fresh projects in it, the earlier estimated amount would certainly not be enough for execution of the project, an official said.
He said during the meeting, the cost amount for REIP might be enhanced. During its meeting with Nespak officials, the team would discuss the technicalities of the project. Nespak has completed its technical survey of the REIP and has sent its final draft report to the ADB on February 23.
The bank has also proposed some recommendations in the draft report of the survey, the sources said. The team, headed by Shakeel A. Khan, would include specialists in water supply, sewerage and drainage, solid waste management, rehabilitation, economic and urban planning sectors.
During its stay in the country till March 25, the team would visit various cities and review the cost, terms and conditions of loans for a number of projects.
