The government will build 100 small dams in Balochistan as a plan of constructing first 20 dams, costing over Rs 2.15 billion in the province has been finalised by the Water and Power Ministry, sources told Business Recorder on Saturday.
This will be the first step in line with Prime Minister's announcement of constructing small dams for water conservation and power generation. Sources said that Punjab, Sindh and NWFP have also been directed to present their plan, of constructing small dams, to the Planning Commission (PC) as early as possible.
The Water and Power Ministry's plan of constructing 20 small dams in Balochistan will be taken up by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in its meeting to be held on April 26.
The CDWP will take up total 36 development projects, costing around Rs 43 billion. The concept clearance of three development projects worth Rs 11.7 billion would also be taken by the meeting, which will be chaired by PC Deputy Chairman Dr Akram Sheikh.
In the energy sector, total four projects, valuing Rs 8.6 billion, are on the agenda of the meeting. Two projects, namely establishment of 500 MW combined cycle power plants at Faisalabad and Dadu will cost Rs 2.85 billion and Rs 2.92 billion respectively. The other two hydro-power projects with a capacity of 16 and 14 MW will be executed by the Kashmir and Northern Areas (Kana) Division. These will be established in Gilgit at a cost of Rs 2.8 billion.
In the water resources sector, six projects, costing around Rs 16 billion, will come for consideration of the CDWP. The World Bank (WB)-assisted project of water Indus water sector capacity building costing Rs 3.28 billion, construction of Shadi Kaur storage dam, Pasni, Gwadar worth Rs 2.63 billion, Balochistan effluent disposal valuing Rs 6.53 billion, revamping of irrigation and drainage system in Sindh costing Rs 0.92 billion are some of the important projects in the sector.
The CDWP will take up two projects costing over Rs 18.8 billion in information technology sector. Suparco has demanded an amount of Rs 18.81 billion for setting up Pakistan communication satellite system.
In industries and commerce sector, three projects costing Rs 2.32 billion will also be considered by the CDWP. The important scheme in the sector has been forwarded by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) that wants to conduct a new mineral survey by spending more than Rs 1.35 billion.
The CDWP will take up four projects worth Rs 6.85 billion in governance sector. The revised project of raising Balochistan constabulary costing Rs 5.95 billion is the most important scheme to be considered. In food and agriculture sector, five projects worth Rs 2.6 billion will be taken up. The most important development scheme among the projects is national pesticides monitoring system in Pakistan costing Rs 1.21 billion.
In devolution and area development, Payara Kashmir programme costing Rs 11.11 billion will be taken up by the CDWP. The Balochistan government will give concept clearance (CC) on local services delivery and governance programme costing Rs 4.8 billion to the CDWP. This project is likely to be assisted by the WB and UK's Department for International Development (DFID). The other CC on Chitral Area Support Project costing Rs 2.77 billion has been submitted by the NWFP government.
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