The Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas on Friday expressed dissatisfaction over Rs 30 billion allocation for hydel power generation projects under PSDP 2013-14 and suggested that it should be enhanced considerably. The committee, which met with Senator Mir Muhammad Yousaf Badiuni in the chair, was also informed by the CEO Pesco that there was zero recovery from the tribal areas and the whole burden was being borne by the government.
The committee was told that about Rs 82 billion would be required for hydel power generation schemes, out of which Rs 30 billion would made available under federal PSDP 2013-14, while rest of the amount would be generated by Wapda through its own resources. The senators were of the view that keeping in view the energy crisis such allocation was very low.
A Wapda official told the committee that Rs 30 billion was enough to meet the requirements of hydel power generation projects. The Secretary Water and Power said that the power sector was neglected in funds allocation in the past. Senator Nisar Muhammad raised a question that how the people would get cheaper power when the government made such a small investment in the hydel projects. The Secretary Water and Power told the committee that Wapda arranged more funds for projects than the government allocation under PSDP.
A Wapda official said that Rs 25 billion allocation was available for Diamer-Bhasha Dam. The committee was informed that up till now Rs 7 billion had been paid to the local community in terms of land acquisition for the Dam. The committee was further told that Chilas Town would be affected by the dam construction and negotiations in this regard were under way with the local community.
Mohammad Asif Sheikh of the Planning Commission said that Rs 17.6 billion had been set aside for land acquisition of the Dam and the amount would be released when a request was made. He assured full support of PC and the ministry of finance in this regard. The committee was also briefed about other power projects including Duber Khwar, Golen Gol Chitral, Gai Gaj Dadu, Satpara Dam Skardu, and Neelum-Jhelum Muzaffarabad.
Senator Ahmad Hassan and the Pesco officials exchanged harsh words over installation of Dushkhail feeders and 20/26 MVA TF in Chakdara. The senator got infuriated when the official informed him that both these schemes would be completed by September or November this year. Senator Hassan said that he was earlier assured by the Pesco chief that both the schemes would be completed before Eid-ul-Fitr. Senator Hilal-ur-Rehman requested the committee to separate power supply to Tesco from Pesco as the latter could not provide power share of the former. He claimed that in Momand Agency about 22 hours of loadshedding was being carried out, as the Tesco was not getting its power share. The CEO Pesco told the committee that Tesco had 3.5 percent share, which was equal to 150 MW to 200 MW. He said there was zero recovery from the tribal areas and the whole burden was being borne by the government. He also said that the Tesco transmission line required up-gradation.
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