ISLAMABAD, May 27: The Wapda authorities have been directed by the Chief Executive Secretariat to utilize Rs16.5 billion allocated for Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project, Chashma Hydropower Project and Bahsha Dam by June this year in order to qualify for adequate funding in 2002-2003.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf has directed all the ministries and divisions to spend their allocated funds for various development projects and that the complaint of under-utilization should be removed, official sources said here on Monday.

The ministry of finance has taken a strong view of under-utilization of funds, which is why its Priority Committee has reportedly opposed increased funding for development projects during 2002-2003.

According to a progress report furnished by the Power Wing of Wapda to the Chief Executive Secretariat, Rs16.5 billion were allocated for the current financial year which included Rs15.4 billion for Ghazi Barotha, Rs986.2 million for Chashma project and Rs170 million for Bhasha dam and that these funds were being utilized.

The Wapda officials also said that their Water Wing had initiated a Comprehensive Programme of Water and Hydropower Resources in Pakistan (Vision 2025) and started three projects namely Greater Thal Canal, Mirani Dam and Gomal Zam.

They said that an allocation of Rs7.7 billion was also separately being utilized during 2001-2002 which included National Water and Hydropower Development Projects (Rs3.2 billion), Drainages Schemes (Rs2.3 billion), Surface Water Development Schemes (Rs1.2 billion), National Drainage Programme (Rs one billion), General Investigation Schemes (Rs37 million) and IBP Consequential Works (Rs15.6 million).

About the bigger projects, the Wapda informed the high officials of the Chief Executive Secretariat that Chashma Right Bank Irrigation project was being implemented in three stages. Stage-1 was completed in December 1986 and Stage-2 in June 1992. The Stage-3 will be completed in October 2002. With the completion of Stage-1 and Stage-2, an area of 150,000 acres and 94,000 acres is getting irrigation water supply, respectively. An area of about 160,000 acres has been under cultivation in Stage-3.

Work on three mega projects namely, Greater Thal Canal, Mirani Dam and Gomal Zam Dam has been initiated. Greater Thal Canal will provide irrigation supplies to an area of 1.50 million acres in Punjab. Mirani Dam has a storage capacity of 0.302 MAF and will produce 200 KW of electricity and will provide irrigation supplies to an area of 32,200 acres in Balochistan. Gomal Zam Dam has a gross storage capacity of 1.14 MAF, and will produce 17.4 MW of electricity and provide irrigation supplies to an area of 163,000 acres in the NWFP.