ISLAMABAD: Minister for State Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan Tuesday informed  the Senate that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) had been issued for construction  of the long-awaited Hingol dam in Balochistan.

Responding to question during question hour, he said the dam would usher in a  new era of prosperity in the province, giving manifold increase to agriculture, livestock, fisheries and tourism sectors.

“I have good news for people of Balochistan that on May 8, the government of Balochistan has issued the NOC in favour of WAPDA to carry out a detailed Engineering Design of the Hingol Dam project.”

He said PC-II of the detailed Engineering design and preparation of tender  documents for the dam project (New Site) was prepared by Water and  Power Development Authority in 2012.

Unfortunately, he said, the same was not approved due to non-prioritization  of the project by the past government of Balochistan.

Responding to another question, he said shortage of water issue could be  addressed by constructing more water reservoirs.

About Munda Dam, he said a contract agreement for dam had been signed  between China Gezhouba Group Company Limited (CGGC) and DESCON  JV on  March 26, 2019. Consultancy Services Agreement has been signed with MDGC on  May 20,2019, he said adding services had been commenced as per  the agreement since May 27 2019.

He said construction of contractor Camp, joint survey and excavation  work on the access road was in progress.

He said so far Rs 17,323.7 million had been spent on the project since  July 31, 2019, out of which Rs. 16,125.86 million had been paid as  mobilization advance to the contractor.

The minister said Rs 174.74 million had been paid as mobilization advance  to the MDCG consultant, while Rs 139.00 million had been paid to the  IG FC Peshawar for security.

Ali Muhammad said Rs 713.63 million had been transferred to the  Mohmand  Tribal District administration for land acquisition.