Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms Wednesday blamed Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for intentionally delaying Diamer-Bhasha Dam project, which will generate 4500 MW electricity. The 2nd meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Water Resources was held under the chairmanship of Nawab Yousuf Talpur wherein interesting scenes were witnessed.
The WAPDA officials stated that Rs 23.68 billion were allocated under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2018-19 for Diamer-Bhasha Dam project out of which Rs 15 billion have been re-appropriated for Mohmand Dam project. He further said that Ministry of Planning was informed earlier that they would not be able to utilise the money.
Planning Division officials Mohammad Arshad rejected WAPDA's stance, saying that despite the interest of Prime Minister and Supreme Court of Pakistan, WAPDA is intentionally pushing back the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project and bringing forward the Mohmand Dam project. The WAPDA had demanded Rs 39 billion, of which Rs 23.68 billion were allocated, the official maintained.
The ministry has demanded Rs 39.7 billion for Diamer-Bhasha Dam (dam project) and Rs 10 billion for (land acquisition & resettlement) under the PSDP for 2019-20. The WAPDA official said that two PC-1 of Bhasha Dam have been approved while another would be prepared later. By the start of 2020, the project would be awarded. The committee was further informed that 86 percent land has been acquired for Diamer-Bhasha Dam while the reaming 14 percent critical land would be acquired in the current year.
The committee discussed the budgetary proposals of the Ministry of Water Resources for the next financial year 2019-20. The committee endorsed all the budgetary proposals of the ministry amounting to Rs 418 billion in which the ministry has demanded Rs 230 billion for 125 new and ongoing schemes of water sector and Rs 188 billion for 17 new and ongoing schemes of power sector.
The ministry has demanded Rs 9 billion for Mangla Dam raising project in PSDP 2019-20. The committee was informed that Rs 96 billion have been spent on Mangla Dam of which only Rs 16 billion were spent on dam while the remaining Rs 80 billion were spent on land acquisition and resettlement. The committee expressed serious concerns over the matter that despite spending a huge amount on resettlement, the people demand for more money. The committee members recommended that proper legislation is needed to overcome this challenge.
MNAs Fazal Muhammad Khan, Ali Nawaz Awan, Sheikh Rahsid Shafique, Chaudhry Shoukat Ali Bhatti, Dr Muhammad Afzal Khan Dhandla, Noureen Farooq Khan, Kanwal Shauzab, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Mir Munawar Ali Talpur and Munir Khan Orakzai, besides the officials of the ministry, attended the meeting.
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