LAHORE: Feasibility study for raising of Rawal Dam and establishment of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Bahawalpur were among the 11 development schemes approved by the Punjab government on Tuesday with an estimated cost of Rs6,695.570 million (Rs6.7 billion).

Presided over by Punjab Planning and Development Board Chairman Irfan Elahi, the sixth meeting of Provincial Development Working Party of 2014-15 fiscal year also approved improvement and rehabilitation of existing Multan Road from Chauburji to Thokar Niaz Beg (length 11.20 km) in Lahore at the cost of Rs311 million and establishment of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Bahawalpur at the cost of Rs2,350 million. Approval was granted for feasibility study for raising of Rawal Dam (PC-II) at the cost of Rs38.059 million; feasibility study of Qutib Bandi Dam Site (PC-II) at the cost of Rs39.507 million; feasibility study of Thatha Dam Project (PC-II) at the cost of Rs43.844 million; lining of Thamman Distributory in Kasur district at the cost of Rs318.550 million; rehabilitation and improvement of existing dams and irrigation channels in Small Dams Organization at the cost of Rs732.017 million; hiring of design review, monitoring, reporting and construction supervision consultants for mega projects in the irrigation department (PC-II, revised) at the cost of Rs711.630 million and installation of new water supply scheme for the residents of Fateh Jang City in Attock district at the cost of Rs420.441 million.

The other schemes approved included construction of road from Narowal to Lahore through Baddomalhi-Narang-Kala Khatai-Shahdara (length 42.71 km) at Narowal/Sheikhupura districts (revised) at the cost of Rs697.626 million; widening and improvement of Mianwali-Muzaffargarh road (length 48.56 km, from Chowk Sarwar Shaheed to TP link Canal and from TP link Canal to Muzaffargarh (revised) at the cost of Rs1,032.896 million.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014