Preparatory work on 3 dams in progress: Rs23.2bn approved for 20 projects
By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: The government has expedited preparatory work on an action plan for the implementation of three major dams — Kalabagh, Akhori and Diamer-Bhasha -– to save time and meet execution schedule for the completion of five reservoirs before 2016, the Planning Commission said on Thursday.
This was stated by Planning Commission member infrastructure Dr Asad Ali Shah after attending a meeting of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) that approved Rs23.2 billion for 20 development projects, including Rs2.4 billion escalation cost for the Pat Feeder project and Balochistan University.
Mr Shah said the assessment committee led by the water and power secretary would hold its second meeting in January to consider a detailed implementation plan being prepared by Wapda. He said once the committee submitted its report, the procedural route of clearance by the CDWP and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) would be adopted.
In reply to a query, he said the decision to construct big dams had been taken at the higher levels and the committee was working out an action plan for the implementation of the three dams.
Wapda was directed in the last meeting of the committee to formulate a detailed action plan on the recommendations of the provincial irrigation authorities.
Spokesman for the Planning Commission Asif Sheikh said the CDWP had also approved Rs5.64 billion for the construction of two medical towers one each in Karachi and Islamabad. He said the medical tower in JPMC, Karachi, would have 13 storeys and would cost Rs3.418 billion. The PIMS medical tower in Islamabad would have 14 storeys and would cost Rs2.225 billion.
The other projects in the health sector were the provision of 64 Slice Helical Scan Angiography equipment in the Karachi Institute of Heart Disease worth Rs120 million and up-gradation of the District Hospital Chillas from 100 to 200 beds at a cost of Rs200 million.
The CDWP, which met with Planning Commission deputy chairman Dr Akram Sheikh in the chair, also approved 10 projects in the infrastructure sector costing Rs15.3 billion, seven projects in the social sector worth Rs7.2 billion, and three projects in other sectors worth Rs0.7 billion.
Out of total 20 projects, two projects pertaining to water and higher education in Balochistan were revised. These projects were the extension of Pat Feeder for utilising Indus water in Balochistan. Its cost was revised from the earlier R2.2 billion to Rs4.5 billion because of an escalation in prices and increase in command area of the project that would irrigate 201,000 acres, up by 42,000 acres from the original 151,000 acres. The strengthening and development of the University of Balochistan will now cost Rs277 million instead of Rs191 million.
On the provincial basis, seven projects worth Rs6.9 billion were approved for Punjab, Rs4.0 billion for three projects in Sindh, one project worth Rs0.5 billion for NWFP, Rs4.9 billion for three projects in Balochistan, one project worth Rs0.2 billion for northern areas, and five projects all over the country worth Rs 6.7 billion.
In the infrastructure sector, the projects recommended include: construction of Ch Zahoor Ellahi Shaheed bridge over river Chinab in Shahbazpur, Gujrat district (Rs1.132 billion); amended PC-I/cost estimates for dualisation of Lahore-Kasur section -- Khana to Kasur (Phase-II) (Rs2.103 billion); amended PC-I/cost estimates for dualisation of Kasur Ganda road section (Phase-III) (Rs545.27 million); construction of additional bridge near Salgran on Rawalpindi-Murree-Kashmir road (Rs35.12 million); construction of dual-carriageway from Gujrat to Salam interchange (motorway) through Mandi Bahauddin (Rs2.88 billion); and rehabilitation, up-gradation and conversion of 400 coaches (Rs3.43 billion).
In water resources, the Trichan-Attahk irrigation scheme in Aulkoh, Chitral district, worth Rs429 million and a revised project worth Rs4.47 billion for the extension of Pat Feeder for utilising Indus water in Balochistan were approved.
In higher education, three projects totalling Rs1.227 billion were approved. They are: up-gradation and modernisation of the existing laboratories and libraries at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi (Rs464 million); up-gradation and strengthening of the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Phase-II (Rs485.46 million); and strengthening and development of the University of Balochistan, Quetta, (Rs277 million).
In science and technology, Rs712 million was approved for two projects. They are: development and promotion of biogas technology for meeting domestic fuel needs of rural areas and production of bio-fertiliser (Rs89 million); and faculty development at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, USA (Rs484.38 million).
In industries and commerce, Rs138.93 million was approved for the construction of boundary wall and site office for Gwadar EPZ. Two projects worth Rs235.2 million approved were sewerage and drainage scheme for smooth disposal, Okara city, (Rs185.16 million), and drainage scheme and sewerage system, Okara city, (Rs50.02 million).
