PSDP 2020-21: Wapda seeks Rs 316.6 billion for 33 water & hydropower projects

Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has demanded allocation of Rs 316.6 billion for 33 water and hydropower projects under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2020-21.

According to official documents, Wapda has demanded Rs 176.844 billion for 18 water sector projects divided according to three priorities. Three mega water projects, i.e, Diamer Basha (Dam part and land acquisition resettlement) and Mohmand Dam Hydropower project have been placed in priority-1, for which an amount of Rs 125. Rupees 442 billion has been sought in the PSDP. The other seven top priority projects will be completed if required funds of Rs 18.203 billion are released during 2020-21.

The projects are as follows: (i) Mangla Dam raising-Rs 867 million; (ii) Gomal Zama Dam- Rs 7 billion; (iii) Darwat Dam- Rs 1.662 billion; (iv) Kacchi canal- Rs 4.295 billion (phase-1 part-A); (v) Rainee Canal (phase-1)- Rs 2.249 billion; (vi) Balochistan effluent disposal into RBOD-Rs 1.443 billion; and (vii) lining of Muzaffargar and TP Link Canals-Rs 687 million.

The second priority projects are: (i) Kurram Tangi Dam (stage-1)- Rs 6.192 billion; and (ii) Nai Gaj Dam-Rs 10.800 billion.

The third priority projects are as follows: (i) Naulong Dam-Rs 3.5 billion; (ii) Kachhi canal project( phases-1-Part B) remaining work (irrigated area 30,000 acres-Rs 12 billion); and (iii) feasibility study, detailed engineering design and preparation of tender documents of Murunj dam project-Rs 200 million.

The other third priority projects for PSDP 2020-2021 are feasibility study of Sindh barrage project DDWP-Rs 178 million, research studies on drainage, land reclamation, water management and use of drainage water Rs 115 million, land and water monitoring/evaluation of Indus plains by SMO-Rs 107. Wapda has also sought over a billion rupees for water sector six studies.

For 15 power sector projects, Wapda has sought allocation of Rs 139.796 billion, out of total cost of the projects amounting to Rs 1.363 trillion with Rs 101.913 billion local financing and Rs 37.883 billion Foreign Exchange Component (FEC) earmarked for 2020-21. The demand for power sector projects during 2020-21 are as follows: (i) Golan Gol Project-Rs 1.003 billion; (ii) Tarbela 4th Extension- Rs 5.057 billion; (iii) Naleem Jhelum hydropower project-Rs 18.069 billion; (iv) Dasu Hydropower Project Rs 85.374 billion; (v) Keyal Khwar project-Rs 1.958 billion; (vi) Tarbela 5th extension- Rs 12.491 billion; (vii) refurbishment and upgradation of generation units Mangla- Rs 9.905 billion; (viii)Warsak Hydroelectric power station 2nd rehabilitation- Rs 4.350 billion; (ix) Chitral HPS capacity enhancement-Rs 263 million; (x) rehabilitation of Dargai HPS- Rs 150 million; (xi) Dudhnial Dam Project (feasibility study)-Rs 190 million; (xii) Patten Hydropower (feasibility study)- Rs 160 million; (xiii) Establishment of Hydropower Training Institute Mangla-Rs 155 million; (xiv ) establishment of glacier monitoring network- Rs 580 million; and (xv) Ghazi Barotha Hydropower project (feasibility)-Rs 101 million.

The country Flood Commission has also sought Rs 10 billion for normal/emergent flood programme under PSDP 2020-21 of which Rs 4.5 billion are for the Punjab, Rs 3.1 billion for the Sindh, Rs 800 million for Balochistan, Rs 100 million for Gilgit-Baltistan and Rs 300 million for merged area and Rs 100 million for Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The Food Commission has demanded Rs 95.980 billion for Flood Protection Sector Project-III (FPSP-III) with Rs 13.406 billion under PSDP 2020-21 with FEC cost equivalent to Rs 1.041 billion.

Meanwhile Senate Standing Committee on Water Resources in its meeting held on Tuesday discussed in detail Khisar Dam, Nushkhi and Bhimber Dam, AJK projects.

Chaired by Senator Shamim Afridi, the meeting was attended by Senator Brigadier John Kenneth Williams (retd), Senator Muhammad Yousaf Badini, Senator Usman Khan Kakar, Senator Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah and senior officers from the Ministry of Water Resources, Planning Division, Irsa along with all concerned.

The meeting commenced with a briefing on issues related to the construction of the Khisar Dam Project. The committee was informed that the proposed dam site was located 18km from Nushkhi Town, Balochistan. The objective of the project is to recharge the ground water aquifers in the area located downstream of these dams. The dam will also be instrumental in protecting downstream areas from flash floods. Crop yield will also increase in irrigation areas. Socio-economic conditions of the areas population will also increase.

The committee enquired the reasons for delay of the project since execution of work had begun in 2017. It was informed that less allocation of funds was the main cause of lack in progress of work on the dam. The committee directed that the Finance Division must be summoned in the next meeting. A progress report of the project was demanded as well. The committee was informed that approved PC-I cost was Rs 444.001 million, whereas updated revised cost is Rs 381.551 million. The committee noted that despite being summoned Finance Division fails to attend meetings that entail development work in Balochistan. The Committee was of the decided opinion that if the Division fails to attend the next meeting a Privilege Motion will be carried against it.

Deliberating over the work conducted over Bhimber Dam, the committee was informed that prime minister of AJK desired the construction of small dam projects on Bhimber Nullah in 2010. Wapda submitted a PC-II for feasibility study. CDWP approved the PC-II (Rs 86.089) on November 29, 2013 subject to Wapda financing and addressing AJK concerns. Wapda requested Government of AJK to arrange funds, since it was the sole beneficiary of the project. AJK refused due to financial constraints. At that Wapda requested Ministry of Water Resources to consider providing funds through PSDP for the project. The Ministry argued that the project has no allocation in current PSDP; therefore, request to process the PC-I with allocation through PSDP cannot be entertained. The committee decided to write to the government of AJK to pay half the cost of the dam. A revised PC-II must also be issued.

The Secretary Water Resources assured the committee that he would request Planning Division to contribute half of the funding from the federal government resources.