CDWP defers approval to Rs25bln cost escalation proposal

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on Tuesday deferred approval to cost escalation of Rs25.7 billion for a much-delayed Kachhi canal project envisaged to irrigate thousands acres of agriculture lands in Balochistan and constituted a committee to submit its project’s review report by next month.

CDWP took the decision during a meeting presided over by Minister for Planning Khusro Bakhtyar. The deferment was related to cost escalation for the remaining phase-1 project of Kachhi canal proposed by the Water Resources Division. The committee was constituted to review the proposal and submit its report within 15 days. According to PC-1, the revised project will be completed in three years period.

The Kachhi canal project was originally approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) during Musharraf regime in 2003 at a cost of Rs31.2 billion for all the three phases with an implementation period of five years. The project was aimed at irrigation of 713,000 acres of land.

In 2013, the project’s phase-1 cost was revised up to Rs 57.562 billion. Yet, the project surpassed the approved implementation period.

Bakhtyar said the project would irrigate millions of acres of agriculture lands in district Dera Bugti. The project would boost the agricultural production in the area as well as provide clean drinking water to local community, he added.

Minister for Planning said the committee was constituted for comprehensive review of the project keeping in mind the technical aspects of the Kachhi canal project.

The project has been a troubled venture that is already facing an ongoing inquiry into technical soundness and financial transparency by a committee constituted by the Council of Common Interests.

Meanwhile, the Water and Power Development Authority has come up with the 2nd revised PC-1, costing Rs80.532 billion for seeking approval of the competent forum. In March 2017, Ecnec already approved it. The second revised PC-1 was prepared for phase-1 of Kachhi canal and the project was rationalised.

The CDWP further approved four projects worth Rs806.202 million and referred two projects worth Rs7.404 billion to Ecnec for further approval.

The Water Resource Division also put before the meeting a review of feasibility study and detailed design of Burj Aziz Khan dam project, Pishin Lora. The project worth Rs67.407 million was approved in the meeting. The dam envisages a short reservoir water of 23 million gallons per day (MGD) and the project would supply 21 MGD of drinking water to Quetta city.

Ministry of National Health Services proposed four projects for Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The first approved project worth Rs200 million was up-gradation of existing facilities at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The second approved project worth Rs222.062 million is construction of female doctor hostel in PIMS. The third project worth Rs316.733 million of procurement of magnetic resonance imaging equipment for Radiology Department of PIMS was also approved in the meeting. The fourth project worth Rs3.886 billion related to health extension of intensive care department in PIMS was referred to Ecnec.

Planning minister said provision of health facilities is among the top priorities of the present government. He called for timely completion of the projects to provide relief to the people.

In physical planning and housing sector, the CDWP referred the project worth Rs3.518 billion related to construction of four sewerage treatment plants and related sewerage system to treat the waste water falling into Korang river and Rawal Lake to Ecnec. The project aims to control pollution resulting from untreated sewerage directly coming into the Rawal Lake from neighbouring settlements through installation of four sewerage treatment plants.