World Bank (WB) is providing 90 percent financial assistance to Pakistan for Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project, Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar informed Senate on Thursday. In a written reply to a question, the Minister stated the project was aimed to install three units of 470 MW each (Total 1410 MW) on Tunnel - 4 of Tarbela Dam Project.
The total cost of the project has been estimated around US $928.900 million, including interest during construction. A loan agreement amounting to US $840 million (International Bank for Reconstruction & Development Agency US $400 million and International Development Agency US $440 million) has already been signed between government of Pakistan and World Bank on April 4, 2012, while the balance amount of Rs 17,736 million will be financed by WAPDA, he added.
During the question hour, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq asked the Minster whether it was fact that dams and water reservoirs in the country had lost their live water storage capacity considerably, if so, then what steps were being taken by the Government in this regard. Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar stated in a written reply that dams and water reservoirs have lost their 29 percent live storage capacity. He said that Tarbela Dam has lost 30 percent, Mangla has lost 18 percent, while Chashma has lost 64 percent shortage capacity.
Studies have been carried out to sort out the feasibility of flushing/evacuating the sediments from Tarbela Dam reservoir to restore its lost live storage and at present sediment Management study is under process based on the recommendations of the experts of the 5th Periodic Inspection conducted in 2007, he added. Mukhtar further stated in a written reply that Mangla Dam had been raised by 30ft from 1234ft to 1264ft SPD to enhance its useful life, live storage has been increased by 2.9 million acres feet (MAF). He said that efforts were being made during flood season to flush out the sediments by operating the under sluice gates to increase the reservoir capacity.
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain, while replying a question moved by Colonel Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi (Retd), informed the house that the Government had deregulated the prices of LPG with effect from September 15, 2000. Ogra has reported that average consumer prices notified by LPG marketing companies in the national press for information of the general public are Rs 120/kg for local LPG, Rs 121/kg for imported LPG, and Rs 123/kg for imported & local mix. He said that the LPG producers have reported the year-wise production cost incurred upon indigenous production for the last five years till date.
Dr Asim Hussain further said that under LPG (P&D) Policy, 2006, Ogra has to determine the reasonableness of price keeping in view the import parity price of LPG, producer price and audited accounts of LPG marketing companies for the last two-year. Further, Ogra has been entrusted to monitor the consumer prices with the view that they should remain with reasonable level. Ogra has reported that the LPG prices are being monitored by them through their Enforcement Department by surprise visits of the authorised distributors of LPG marketing companies.
LPG prices for general consumers are now fixed by marketing companies themselves since the Government has deregulated the prices of LPG with effect from September 15, 2000. Neither Ogra nor MPNR fixes the price for general consumers; hence no data illustrating increase/decrease in the same is available, he added.