Ghabir dam project: Rs11.679bn PC-1 submitted for approval

NAVEED BUTT

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Water and Power has submitted PC-1 (Revised) for Ghabir Dam Project to the Planning Commission for approval, showing cost of Rs 11.679 billion.

The project’s components include Higher Efficiency Irrigation System (HEIS) and Surface Irrigation System (SIS) at a combined cost of Rs 10.179 billion. The government of Pakistan has signed MoU with Exim Bank of China for small dams. In this regard, $ 700 million would be available for small/medium dams including Ghabir Dam Project. The Ministry had submitted PC-1 (revised) in November 2011.

Sources said that Exim Bank would provide 85 percent of contract cost and remaining 15 percent would be arranged through Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). Under the directive of the Government, HEIS would be incorporated in Phase-2, which would help conserve sweet water to enhance agriculture or increase the number of beneficiaries.

Sources said that pilot project of command area developed with HEIS on 20 acres would be developed in Phase-1 by Wapda, while remaining area would be developed by Irrigation and Agriculture Departments in Phase-2. The HEIS would be implemented by Irrigation and Agriculture Departments of Government of Punjab with technical advice from Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) on requirement basis in phase-2 subject to availability of required funds and participation of farmers. The irrigation system has been designed for the peak demand for 20 hours with peak water requirement of 6mm for 80 percent drip irrigation and 20 percent of sprinkler irrigation or furrow irrigation for matured orchards.

The power potential of about 50 kw would be exploited by using head and discharge available after construction of the dam. The project would benefit water supply for drinking, employment and business opportunities etc.

Sources said that calculation of total funding requirements to implement the project include escalation of capital cost and additional interest during construction estimated at Rs 13.308 billion including IDC (base cost Rs 11.679, IDC Rs 1.629 billion).

The government had allocated Rs 1 billion in PSDP-2011-12 for this project.

The dam is located on Ghabir Nullah at a distance of 9 km from village Danda Shah Bilawal and 60 km from Talagang.

The Ghabir dam project would create water storage which would be utilised for the development of irrigated agriculture in the project area. The main objectives of the project are i) irrigation development, ii) Fisheries, iii) hydropower generation, iv) Flood mitigation, and v) Socio-economic uplift and poverty reduction.