PRESIDENT Musharraf has reinforced his resolve to enhance water storage and hydro-power generation capacity with groundbreaking of Basha dam. On the other hand, there are disturbing indications that put question marks on the fate of some crucial water projects.

Two very important developments have taken place recently that can go a long way on Pakistan’s water scenario. Unfortunately, these developments are not the welcome ones and can have long ranging repercussions for country’s water sector.

The first one regards the Neelum-Jehlum hydropower project in Azad Kashmir. Wapda, after an evaluation of five months, has cancelled the deal with a consortium of Chinese companies to initiate the project, terming it unfeasible. The proposed 969 megawatt project is expected to cost $1.6 billion.

The project that faces further delay because of this cancellation is utmost important for Pakistan. It is not simply about cheap electricity, but there is much more attached with the project.

Under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan, though having right to use the waters of three western rivers, needs to take steps that ensure the continuity of this right.

Just across the line of control (LoC), India is fast building a similar project on the Neelum River, called Kishanganga there. It is reported to have completed 75 per cent work on the project that involves a 29 km tunnel in India case.

The Neelum-Jehlum project, involving a 41 km tunnel 300 meters under the riverbed is a unique one in its technical nature. Almost 98 per cent of it will be underground, including a powerhouse and a transmission system, and only two percent i.e. inlet and outlet will be visible on the ground.

Whatever the technical reasons, the question is how will the money be raised? How ill the cash strapped Wapda arrange such a big amount? The amount, $1.6 billion is not easy to come up with. The news reports say that government has taken a decision to construct the project on its own. Easier said than done. Is the government presently in a position to spare that much money? The present financial position of the government creates serious doubts where it is already facing problem rising current account deficit.

A further delay would be disastrous. Not only the cost is rising with every passing day, already up from an initial estimate of $1 billion, we are at serious risk of loosing a major portion of Jehlum waters to India, experts believe. That is the least thing we can afford keeping in view the alarming water and power situation all over the country.

India has recently shown its willingness to revise the design of the project. But the revised design has not been made available to Pakistan as yet so its impact can not be assessed.

The second significant water project facing nuisance is Gomal Zam dam. The unfortunate project has proved to be a fatality of all too worrisome law and order situation.

Located in South Waziristan Agency, the tribal area where an intense insurgency is being fought by the army, the dam suffered a big blow when two of the Chinese engineers working on it were kidnapped in 2004. One of them was killed following an operation by the security agencies while the other was injured seriously.

First it was announced that the Chinese company will keep the work up, despite the unfortunate incidence. When it could not be realized and the suffering contractors left the site, there were reports of negotiations to persuade them to re-start the work. Later, the talk of contract going to the second highest bidder, a Turkish company was heard in the media.

Now, a recent meeting of the cabinet has decided to award the contract of this project also to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO).

Interestingly, FWO had come up with the highest price in original bidding at $210.23 million. It was much ahead of the other bids of $72.9 million, 146.3 million and 186.8 million. The prime minister himself rejected the second option forwarded by the ministry of water and power proposing arrangement for international competitive bidding. The PM’s argument, as reported, was to avoid further delay in completion of this important project.

The dam, with a total capacity of 1.14 million acre feet (live capacity of 0.892 maf) will be a vital medium sized reservoir. It is expected to help convert about 163,068 acres of barren alluvial silt land into irrigated plains in the areas of Tank and D.I. Khan Districts of the NWFP. Gomal Zam, like Kalabagh dam, has a controversial history of its own.

First conceived by the British in early 20th century, the dam could have cost too little and the areas around it could have been witnessing a green revolution if earlier efforts of 1963 and 1995 to build it were successful.

When the contract was awarded to Chinese company, with another company of former federal minister Abdul Razzak Dawood as a partner, the estimated time of completion was four years. While the cause of the ongoing delay has been security situation, leaving it further will add more worries only.

In this background, one can understand and should admire the PM’s preference of an earlier completion of the Gomal Zam dam. But the question of paramount importance is weather FWO has the capacity to execute two of such big projects at the same time? Will it be able to ensure the completion of both the projects in time? Answers will come with the passage of time alone. However, there are not many options to go about either. Yet the significance attached with the projects demands that all the possible means are used, up to the optimum level, in order to ensure their completion at desired time.