LAHORE: The PML-N government’s target of ending loadshedding by 2018 may face some hurdles as one of the key components of the plan, 1,410MW Tarbela extension project, is heading for deadline failure des­pite a Rs5 billion acceleration plan.

The failure is coming from two factors. One, the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) did not finalise any schedule (new timelines and milestones) with the civil works’ contractors when it signed the Rs5bn acceleration plan last year. Other, the authority never bothered to synchronise civil works with the electro-mechanical development of the project.

Now, the civil contractor is evasive to meet the deadlines and the electro-mechanical contractor, who was never made a part of the acceleration plan, is asking for more money and time.

“The project is turning out to be another Neelum-Jehlum hydro-power project, costing more and more money and time, without bringing promised benefit for the last one decade,” fears a former employee of the central contract cell of Wapda.

In response to a detailed questionnaire sent by Dawn to Wapda in which it was asked to explain its failure, the authority said: “The questionnaire sent by you is based on the issues about which any comment at this stage by Wapda may compromise its position later on, and result in financial implications. With this in view, it is unable to provide response about the questions raised by you.”

According to details of the case, the 1,410MW Tarbela Extension 4th project, which was launched in 2013, is to be completed in February 2018. After coming to power, the PML-N government took a decision for its early completion and pulled back the deadline by eight months (June 2017) on the plea that additional water from monsoon rains that year would be utilised to generate electricity. It was argued that the additional power would help government save $300 million, and most importantly reduce loadshedding hours.

In reply to the questionnaire sent by Dawn to Wapda, the authority said: “Wapda has a policy of taking the public into confidence on its projects by issuing press release from time to time. If any such development takes place as mentioned in your questionnaire, it will be discussed in the authority’s meeting and the decision will be communicated to media as per the policy.”

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2016