JV for Rs 309 billion Mohmand dam: Financial evaluation of Descon-China Gezhouba under way: Wapda

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) is conducting technical evaluation of the financial bid of Descon-China Gezhouba joint venture for Rs 309 billion Mohmand Dam in order to materialize mobilization of contractors to the site next month, said sources.
"Technical evaluation of the financial bid is underway and the Authority was also involved in technical negotiations with the winner of the bid," they added. However, the sources were not clear as to when Prime Minister Imran Khan would give time for inauguration of the project site. They said WAPDA was fully prepared to hold inaugural ceremony like it was on 2nd and 13th of January.
"It is up to the prime minister office to inform us about his availability for inauguration of the dam," they added.
It may be noted that Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif had raised questions on the floor of the House last Friday on awarding of Rs 309 billion contract of Mohmand Dam to a company owned by government's adviser and termed it incorrect as he demanded the Speaker to give his ruling on the issue and reiterated demand of the opposition parties of constituting a committee of the House to probe the matter. However, no such ruling has so far been passed by the Speaker of National Assembly.
The bidding process of the dam became controversial when a single financial bid of a consortium comprising Descon, China Gezhouba and Vioth Hydro, was adopted after disqualification of another bid from a consortium of Frontier Works Organization (FWO), Andritz Hydro and Power China on technical grounds.
The Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources had also expressed dissatisfaction last Tuesday over awarding the contract of dam on single bidding despite knowing that the company had already disqualified for constructing a small dam in Balochistan.
However, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda is still determined to award the project to the winning contractor JV while the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Media Iftikhar Durrani had told media that new date would be announced after consultation with former chief justice Saqib Nisar.