The Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reforms has blamed the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for intentionally delaying Diamer Basha dam project which will generate 4500 MW.
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.
WAPDA officials stated that Rs. 23.68 billion was allocated under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2018-19 for Diamer Basha dam where Rs. 15 billion have been re-appropriated for Mohmand dam project. He further said that Planning ministry was informed earlier that they would not be able to utilize the money.
Planning Division officials Mohammad Arshad rejected WAPDA’s stance while saying that despite the interest of Prime Minister and Supreme Court of Pakistan, WAPDA is intentionally pushing back the Diamer Basha dam project and bringing forward the Mohmand dam project. WAPDA had demanded Rs. 39 billion of which Rs. 23 billion were allocated, the official maintained.
The Ministry has demanded Rs 39.7 billion for Diamer Basha dam and Rs. 10 billion for land acquisition & resettlement under the PSDP for 2019-2020.
A WAPDA official said that two PC-1 of Basha dam have been approved while another would be prepared later. The project would be awarded by the start of 2020. The committee was further informed that 86 percent of the land has been acquired for Diamer Basha dam while the reaming 14 percent of 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 the power sector, respectively.
The Ministry has demanded Rs. 9 billion for Mangla dam rising in PSDP 2019-20. The committee was informed that Rs. 96 billion have been spent on Mangla dam of which only Rs. 16 billion was spent on the dam while the remaining Rs. 80 billion on land acquisition and resettlement. The committee expressed serious concerns over the matter that despite spending a huge amount on resettlement, people demand more money. The committee members recommended that proper legislation is needed to overcome this challenge.
The following 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.
They can keep fighting and blaming each other and then per usual delay on ‘awarding’ contracts and completing paperwork while the country can go to hell or die of thirst. Lousy ministries with same old shity ways of working and coordination.
Yeh jo logg government offices may bhaithay hain in logo nay mulk ko barbaad kiya hay
These people should be made to do hard work with strict performance management and accountability