39 uplift projects approved: CDWP okays Mirani dam resettlement action plan
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, May 17: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Monday cleared 39 development projects estimated to cost Rs11.7 billion, including a resettlement action plan for Mirani Dam in Balochistan. These 39 projects involve a foreign exchange component of Rs1.8 billion.
The meeting was presided over by Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Dr Akram Sheikh.
Planning commission spokesman Asif Sheikh told reporters after the meeting that in the infrastructure sector, 26 projects costing Rs8.5 billion, six social sector projects worth Rs1.4 billion and seven projects in science and technology and other sectors costing Rs1.8 billion were either approved or recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council for approval.
The meeting recommended the Resettlement Action Plan for Mirani Dam worth Rs1.84 billion to the Ecnec for approval. However, the CDWP appointed the National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) as third party which, with the help of the Balochistan government, would re-asses the cost of land, buildings and trees under the compensation package. He said that the height of Mirani dam would be increased by 20 feet that would increase the cost of the resettlement plan.
Mr Sheikh said that in the transport and telecommunication sector, the meeting approved 12 projects costing Rs4.9 billion, five water projects worth Rs5 billion, nine physical planning and housing projects valued at Rs1.5 billion, three higher education projects worth Rs986 million, four industrial and commerce sector projects which would cost Rs995 million and two projects in the science and technology sector worth Rs450 million.Of the approved projects, seven projects valued at Rs1.7 billion would be undertaken in the Punjab province, five projects costing Rs1.8 billion in Sindh, and 10 projects worth Rs1.6 billion in the NWFP. He said for the first time, the government had approved four projects of private sector.
He said that the meeting had also approved the settinh up of a foundry service centre in Lahore on 50:50 per cent basis funding. The project will cost Rs195 million. The centre would share 50 per cent of the cost in the project while the chamber of commerce would share the remaining cost. He said that the chamber would also give Rs500 million for purchasing land for the centre. He said that the center would provide dye-making and moulding facilities besides providing materials testing facilities and training.
He said the meeting also approved a product development centre in Gujranwala at a cost of Rs98.7 million that would also provide common facility for industrial development. “The meeting also approved product development center for composite based sports goods and business and commerce centre in Sialkot which will also extend facilities for industrial development.”
In the water sector, the meeting approved the construction of Lougher and Karak dams in Karak district and the Darmalak dam in Kohat district.
