KARACHI: Sindh govermnet has decided to use the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD) in order to supply fresh water to Thar Coal fields instead of Makhi Farash canal.
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) at its meeting held in Islamabad on January 21- 2011, approved a scheme of Makhi Farash canal, water carrier for Thar Coal project at a cost of Rs27 billion.
Initially, a project, namely 'construction of Makhi Farash link canal (Eastern canal)' was approved and included in Federal PSDP 2008-09. Later on, a revised PC-1 was prepared including lining of Maki Farash link canal.
This decision of using the LBOD for Thar Coal project has been taken during a meeting held in the chair of President Asif Ali Zardari at Bilawal House a few days ago.
The officials of Coal and Energy and Irrigation departments had briefed the President over the merits and demerits of both schemes, sources said.
Officials had briefed the President Zardari that the water would be supplied from main minor of LBOD of district Sanghar to the Nabi Sir road where a big pond would be constructed and water would be filtered there; sources added that the stored and filtered water would be supplied to the Thar coal fields from that pond.
President Zardari had directed the concerned officials for making of feasibility report that how they will make it possible to supply the fresh water at the Thar coal fields, sources said.
Sources informed that Coal and Energy department would prepare the feasibility report of new scheme of LBOD within the period of four months, sources said.
In order to develop Thar coal deposits on large scale basis and to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), fresh water supply to Thar coal fields is essential and is required to be initiated immediately to meet the timelines of the projects on the ground, sources said.
Sources unveiled that when Thar Coal project would be started once, the water would be required there 24 hours so that LBOD scheme would be more attractive than Makhi Farsh canal scheme.
It is pertinent to mention here that total reserves of coal are estimated at 175 billion tons, which could produced 0.1 million mw daily for 300 years. The approval of this scheme will give great confidence to the investors as the governments of Sindh and Pakistan have shown their resolve and commitment towards Thar coal development as a flagship project.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2011
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