The Supreme Court on Friday directed WAPDA to prepare PC-I for the construction of Nai Gaj Dam in 15 days. A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, was informed that the schedule and the breakdown of cost of the project depend upon the PC-I, which has to be prepared by WAPDA. The Chief Justice, therefore, directed WAPDA to prepare PC-I even if they have to work day and night as the timeline for the execution of the project could be made after the PC-I.
In the last hearing, the additional attorney general informed the apex court that the PC-1 of the dam would be reviewed and a new contractor would come for the construction as the earlier contractor's bank guarantee is fake. The CJP remarked whatever was decided between the parties as well as the timeframe to complete the dam should be submitted in the court on the next hearing.
The total cost is Rs 46 billion while the government has released Rs 16 billion. The federal government was to release Rs 46 billion for the construction of the dam and 51 per cent of the project has been completed, but due to non-release of funds the work came to a halt.
The Chief Justice said Nai Gaj Dam should be constructed as Rs 16 billion cannot be allowed to be wasted. He said projects are started for the sake of 'kickbacks' and later it is said they are no more needed. He remarked that no one came from the Sindh government to attend the hearing.
An official of WAPDA said that first it was agreed that 50 cusec water be released from Dam in Mancher Lake but now the Sindh government demands that 100 cusec water be released. He said if 100 cusec water would be released to Mancher Lake then dam water for 28,000 acres of agriculture land can't be released.