PESHAWAR, Aug 3: The federal government has earmarked over Rs26bn to execute water, power and road projects in various parts of the province, according to official sources.

The government has specified funds to start execution of Bhasha dam, Kurram-Tangi dam, Golan Gol hydro power project, Khan Khawar and Dubair Khawar hydel power projects, Allai Khawar hydel power project.

A sum of Rs350m has been earmarked for the execution of the proposed Bhasha dam involving a total estimated cost of Rs900m which also includes foreign aid of over Rs96m. A sum of Rs94m has so far been spent on the dam project.

The sum of Rs350m specified for the current financial year does not include foreign assistance and the entire amount would be provided by the federal government.

Similarly, the government has specified over Rs3bn to start execution of four hydel power projects including one each at Golan Gol, Khan Khawar, Allai Khawar and Dubari Khawar areas. In its Public Sector Development Programme for the 2002-03 financial year, Rs300m have been allocated for the execution of the Golan Gol hydel power project, Rs673m for the Khan Khawar hydel power project, Rs1bn for the Allai Khawar hydel power project and Rs1.125bn for the Dubair Khawar hydel project.

The four hydel power projects separately involve an estimated cost of Rs6.8bn, Rs4.94bn, Rs3.42bn and Rs8.78bn, respectively.

Though the projects had been designed several years back, none of these could be executed on fast track because of indecision on the part of successive governments who could not materialize their moves to attract foreign investment for their execution.

Sums of Rs13.8m, Rs14.6m, Rs20.8m and Rs18.5m have so far been spent on these projects in the past, separately.

Rs15.44bn have been specified for Ghazi-Barotha power project involving a total estimated cost of over Rs89.9bn. The funds specified for the Ghazi-Barotha hydro power project, a sum of Rs8.3bn would be provided by the federal government whereas international donor agencies would provide Rs7.1bn during 2002-03.