Share this story!            

Senate committee backs small dams’ construction

* WAPDA chairman briefs senators on various projects

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Population Welfare, which met here under the chairmanship of Senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi on Wednesday, has underlined the need for the construction of small dams to irrigate vast barren lands and to avoid water losses.

According to an official statement, the observation was made by the committee after it was briefed by various organizations on mega projects executed by the federal government. The WAPDA chairman briefed the committee about the Mangla Dam Raising (MDR) Project, Gomal Zam dam, Greater Thal Canal, Bhasha dam, Mirani dam and various others on-going projects.

He informed the committee that the work on the MDR project was in full swing at the moment and that it was likely to be completed by September 2007 at a cost of Rs 62.55 billion. In reply to a question, the committee was informed that Rs 1,143.211 million had so far been disbursed among the affectees. Regarding delay in the construction of Gomal Zam dam, he said the reluctance on the part of the Chinese firm was one of the causes of the delay. The WAPDA chairman said the matter was being negotiated at the appropriate level and efforts were under way to arrive sat an amicable solution so that work could be resumed at the earliest.

About the Mirani dam project in Balochistan, he said its construction would save the waste of rainwater and help irrigate lands in Balochistan and also provide drinking water.

The committee members were of the view that Balochistan had fertile land and the construction of small dams would bring about a green revolution in the province. The committee members directed WAPDA to speed up the projects.

The National Highway Authority (NHA) chairman informed the committee that repair work on the Mekran Coastal Highway had been completed with certain modifications to avoid any mishap in future.

He stated that restoration costs were borne by the contractors as per the contract.

The NHA chairman briefed the members of the committee about various development projects such as motorways, Lyari Expressway, Karachi Northern Bypass, Lowari rail tunnel project and earthquake damages to road.

The members of the committee expressed satisfaction with the performance of the NHA. The committee was also given a detailed briefing on the Quetta water supply and environmental improvement project and on the K-III 100 MGD water supply project of Karachi.

The committee directed the authorities concerned to take all necessary steps to ensure environmental safety and supply of clean water to the people.

The meeting was attended by Senators Mrs. Kalsoom Perveen, Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli, Fauzia Fakhar-uz-Zaman Khan, Lt-Gen Javed Ashraf (retd), Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi, Dr Mrs Kauser Firdaus, Dr Abdullah Riar and Rehmatullah Kaker, advocate, M Akram Sheikh, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, the secretary planning and development.

Home | Business

Share this story!