ISLAMABAD, June 23: Major changes, costing Rs10.4 billion, have been proposed in the Right Bank Outfall Drainage project, primarily to increase wheat and rice production in Sindh.

The project will now be completed by the end of 2008 at a revised cost of Rs14.7 billion against the original estimate of Rs4.3 billion approved in 1994.

Sources told Dawn on Thursday that the Water and Power Development Authority had sought the permission of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council to undertake the Lower Indus Right Bank Irrigation and Drainage Project, Stage-1, to provide the direly needed disposal facilities for the existing and proposed drainage projects.

The objective is to increase crop production through increase in cropping intensity and yields and decrease agricultural risks on commanded areas of Rice, North-West and Dadu Canals. It will provide drainage facilities to about 1.28 million acres.

The new scope of work includes Indus Link widening and construction, extension of the RBOD up to Miro Khan Zero Point, remodelling of the MNVD for 3,500 cusecs drainage effluent, rehabilitation of Ratodero and Miro Khan Surface Drainage Projects, rehabilitation of Shahdakot project and monitoring the quality of effluent of the project area.

The original PC-1 of the RBOD project was approved in 1994 with a cost of Rs4.3 billion, including foreign components of Rs1.8 billion. However, due to non-availability of foreign financing, the foreign component was converted into local component.