Ecnec clears much-awaited Rs486 bn Dasu Dam

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) that met here on Friday with Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar in the chair approved the much-awaited Dasu Hydro Power Project (Stage-I) at the rationalised cost of Rs486.093 billion.

The stage will take five years to complete and the World Bank will provide $700 million for this stage. Pakistan is expected to get a loan of $700 million on May 24, a senior official who attended the meeting told The News.

When asked if the government had compromised on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam for the Dasu project before the World Bank’s management, the official explained that Bhasha Dam is still a priority project and the second phase of Dasu project is linked with the construction of Bhasha. The second phase of Dasu Dam will give dividends when the water storage of Bhasha Dam gets completed as its water will also help generate electricity at the site of Dasu under the second phase.

“The World Bank is willing to fund the Dasu Dam so the government decided to first initiate a project for which funding was available,” the official said.It is pertinent to mention that the World Bank had earlier refused to fund the Diamer-Bhasha Dam saying it is situated in the disputed territory of Gilgit-Baltistan and if Pakistan wants the funding, then it should seek an NoC from India.

The cost of stage-1 of Dasu hydropower project, the official said, stands at Rs486.093 billion with FEC of Rs218.547 billion. It will be located at District Upper Kohistan, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa.

The Dasu Hydropower Project is designed for 4,320MW power generation comprising two stages (2,160MW each) on the Indus River. The Stage I envisages the construction of 2,160MW power project and acquisition of land, including resettlement, construction of offices, colonies, project access roads and pre-construction activities. This phase will be completed in five years. Once completed, the project will generate electricity at a unit cost of Rs2.14/kWh.

Ecnec also constituted a committee comprising representatives from ministries of planning, development & reform, water & power, finance, Wapda and the government of KP to monitor the issues relating to land acquisition for ensuring propriety of the land cost. It was further decided that the ministry of water and power would confirm that an NoC from the concerned EPA has been obtained.

Ecnec also approved 34.5MW Harpo Hydro Power Project at the modified cost of Rs9.5 billion with FEC of Rs6.1 billion. The location of the project is at Harpo Lungma, District Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the executing agency will be Water and Power Development Authority. It will be completed in four years. The AFD of France and Kfw of Germany will finance the project through a loan of 70 million Euros. The additional cost will be met from Wapda’s own resources. The project cost includes construction of 132KV double circuit transmission lines from the project site to Skardu.

The finance minister said on the occasion that energy is an essential ingredient for socio-economic development and economic growth. He said that hydropower is low cost, environment friendly source of electricity. He added that the government, in line with the vision of PML-N leadership, would make use of the potential of the natural resources of the country for the benefit of the people.

ECNEC approves Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved on Saturday the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus Project (Islamabad portion) at a total cost of Rs 23.839 billion.

According to the decision, the Federal Government would contribute Rs 13.419 billion whereas the rest of the amount, Rs.10.419 billion, would be chipped in by the Punjab Government.

The ECNEC, which met here at the Prime Minister office with Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in the chair, approved the Metro Bus Project subject to clearance of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by the competent authority.

The Islamabad portion comprising 13.9 kilometers, would include Peshawar Mor Interchange as designed by the Capital Development Authority and 14 bus stations with allied facilities.

The Metro Bus System will be a world class facility being provided to the residents of twin cities, as per international standard and as per the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The construction of long awaited Peshawar Mor Interchange under this project will go a long way in redressing the congestion problem at this intersection, provide relief to the people, and help in smooth flow of traffic during peak hours.

The project will start from I J Principal Road at Faizabad where Rawalpindi portion terminates, and after traversing through IJ Principal Road, 9th Avenue, and Jinnah Avenue, will finally terminate at Pakistan Secretariat.

The project envisages construction of 13.9 KM long dedicated signal free corridor of 9.60 to 10.10 meters width at normal section and from 19.00 to 21.10 meters width at Metro Bus System (MBS) stations and tranches in Islamabad territory.

It will be capable of accommodating articulated buses running simultaneously in both directions.

The meeting was attended by Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage, Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning and Development, Anusha Rehman, Minister of State for Information Technology, federal secretaries and senior officials from federal and provincial governments.

ECNEC approves Stage-1 of Kurram Tangi Dam

ISLAMABAD: Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Thursday approved Kurram Tangi Multipurpose Dam Stage-1 (Kaitu Weir Irrigation and Power) Project, located in North Waziristan Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
In a meeting of ECNEC headed by Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Stage one of the Dam was approved at a reduced cost of Rs 12.662 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs 9.975 billion.
The main objective of the project is to provide 76.15 cubic-ft/sec assured irrigation water supply to bring 16,380 acres of land under cultivation in FATA and generate 18.9 MW electricity.
The Minister said that location of the project is in FATA area and it is necessary for socio-economic uplift of North Waziristan, therefore, it should be put on fast track.
The Minister added that the project will also provide water for domestic use of 48,500 population.
ECNEC also considered and approved in principle the Revised PC-I of Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project Phase-I (WSIP-I) in the command area of Ghotki feeder, Nara, Fuleli and Akram Wah canals at a reduced cost of Rs 30.353 billion including International Development Association (IDA) loan of Rs 28.840 billion.
The Government of Sindh will return IDA loan from their own resources and reflect its financing in their provincial ADP.
The objective of project is to improve the effectiveness and operational efficiency of water distribution by ensuring the safety of the canal system and delivering due share of water to the farmers at the tail end of the irrigation system.
Moreover, ECNEC also approved Revised PC-I of Gomal Zam Multipurpose Project at revised/rationalized cost of Rs 20.626 billion which include USAID grant in aid of Rs 10.721 billion (US $ 97 million).
Main objective of the project is to harness flow water and conserve the perennial flow for providing assured irrigation water supply of 848 cusecs (24 cumecs) to irrigate 191,139 acres of land including 28,053 acres additional land which falls under the command of Waran Canal System and generate 17.4MW electricity.
ECNEC considered and approved Gomal Zam Command Area Development and On-Farm Water Management for High Value and High Efficiency Agriculture Project, located in D.I. Khan and Tank Districts, at a rationalized cost of Rs.3.73 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs.2.2 billion.
The project is devised to develop the command area of Gomal Zam Dam through 848 cusecs of sustainable irrigation water supply which will bring 191,139 acres of land under cultivation. The completion date for project is fiscal year 2014- 15.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervez Rashid, Minister for Science and Technology, Zahid Hamid, Minister of State for Information Technology, Anusha Rehman, Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah and senior officials of the Federal and Provincial Governments.

ECNEC approves Stage-1 of Kurram Tangi Dam

ISLAMABAD: Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Thursday approved Kurram Tangi Multipurpose Dam Stage-1 (Kaitu Weir Irrigation and Power) Project, located in North Waziristan Agency, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
In a meeting of ECNEC headed by Minister for Finance, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Stage one of the Dam was approved at a reduced cost of Rs 12.662 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs 9.975 billion.
The main objective of the project is to provide 76.15 cubic-ft/sec assured irrigation water supply to bring 16,380 acres of land under cultivation in FATA and generate 18.9 MW electricity.
The Minister said that location of the project is in FATA area and it is necessary for socio-economic uplift of North Waziristan, therefore, it should be put on fast track.
The Minister added that the project will also provide water for domestic use of 48,500 population.
ECNEC also considered and approved in principle the Revised PC-I of Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project Phase-I (WSIP-I) in the command area of Ghotki feeder, Nara, Fuleli and Akram Wah canals at a reduced cost of Rs 30.353 billion including International Development Association (IDA) loan of Rs 28.840 billion.
The Government of Sindh will return IDA loan from their own resources and reflect its financing in their provincial ADP.
The objective of project is to improve the effectiveness and operational efficiency of water distribution by ensuring the safety of the canal system and delivering due share of water to the farmers at the tail end of the irrigation system.
Moreover, ECNEC also approved Revised PC-I of Gomal Zam Multipurpose Project at revised/rationalized cost of Rs 20.626 billion which include USAID grant in aid of Rs 10.721 billion (US $ 97 million).
Main objective of the project is to harness flow water and conserve the perennial flow for providing assured irrigation water supply of 848 cusecs (24 cumecs) to irrigate 191,139 acres of land including 28,053 acres additional land which falls under the command of Waran Canal System and generate 17.4MW electricity.
ECNEC considered and approved Gomal Zam Command Area Development and On-Farm Water Management for High Value and High Efficiency Agriculture Project, located in D.I. Khan and Tank Districts, at a rationalized cost of Rs.3.73 billion including USAID grant in aid of Rs.2.2 billion.
The project is devised to develop the command area of Gomal Zam Dam through 848 cusecs of sustainable irrigation water supply which will bring 191,139 acres of land under cultivation. The completion date for project is fiscal year 2014- 15.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervez Rashid, Minister for Science and Technology, Zahid Hamid, Minister of State for Information Technology, Anusha Rehman, Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah and senior officials of the Federal and Provincial Governments.