All water reservoirs to be constructed by 2015

[Neo]

February 08, 2007
Dams’ height to be raised: Unanimous decision at high-level meeting

By Khaleeq Kiani

ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: The government on Wednesday decided to increase heights of Munda and Kurram Tangi dams by about eight feet and 30 feet, respectively, to meet demands of local people and bring maximum land under cultivation.

The decision was taken at a meeting held here under Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi. Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Salim Saifullah, Lakki Marwat District Nazim Hamyun Saifullah, water and power secretary, additional chief secretary and secretary for irrigation and power, NWFP, and officials of Wapda and the Frontier Works Organisation attended the meeting.

“The issue of height of the two mega projects, i.e. Kurram Tangi dam and Munda dam, has been resolved,” an official statement said. The decision was taken unanimously by all stakeholders, it added.

Wapda was directed to redesign the structure of the Kurram Tangi dam within four months in accordance with the increased capacity of water storages of 1.2 million acre feet.

Sources said the height of the Munda dam had originally been estimated at 703 feet under a feasibility study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. However, Wapda authorities and private sector sponsors of the project had reduced its height to 695 feet, which was sufficient to meet electricity generation requirements.

The meeting on Wednesday, however, decided on demands of local people to fix Munda dam’s height at 703 feet. Similarly, it decided to enhance the height of the Kurram Tangi dam from 295 feet to 325-340 feet which would provide a storage of about 1.2 million acre feet of water, instead of 0.91 MAF originally envisaged by Wapda. This additional storage capacity would bring about 0.362 million acres of land under cultivation and push up the cost of the project by about Rs500 million to Rs17.5 billion, the sources said.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/02/08/top1.htm

 

[Neo]

Issuance of LoIs for seven hydropower projects approved

ISLAMABAD (February 09 2007): The Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) held a meeting with the Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi, in the chair on Thursday and approved issuance of Letters of Interest (LoI) to seven hydropower projects with a cumulative capacity of 1,620 MW.

The projects include 197 MW Kalam-Asrit Hydropower Project, and 209 MW Asrit-Kedam Hydropower Project to be located in district Swat. The 548 MW Kaigah Hydropower Project to be located in district Kohistan. The 240 MW Karot Hydropower Project at district Kotli, AJK, 65 MW Sehra Hydropower Project at District Poonch AJK, 222 MW Azad Pattan Hydropower Project at Sudhnoti, AJK and 139 MW Chakothi -Hattian Hydropower Project at Muzzaffarabad, AJK.

Additionally, the board approved issuance of LoIs to two companies for establishing 1,000-1,200 MW power projects each based on imported coal near Karachi. The issuance of LoIs to these projects had been submitted to the PPIB after proper evaluation.

The board also announced to relocate 450 MW Uch-II Power project in Balochistan for the development of the province and catering for its much-required power needs. However, it was not clear if the project would be awarded on International Competitive Bidding (ICB) or negotiated deal as there were divergent views on this issue.

Keeping in view the energy requirements of the province, Wapda was directed to install 100 MW power plant on fast-track basis at Khuzdar to improve supply situation in the remote area. The board also directed Wapda to prepare long- term demand supply projection and submit it to the next meeting of PPIB.

Jatoi also held a meeting with a business delegation from London which expressed its strong desire to invest in the power sector through public-private partnership to further boost the economic ties between the two countries. The delegation led by Lord Mayor of London, Honourable Alderman John Stuttard, expressed interest to invest in hydro, wind, solar and thermal power projects.

Discussing the carbon credit through renewable energy projects, the delegation said that most of the trading of carbon credit is being made by London Stock Exchange (LSE) and offered to arrange equity financing both for Pakistani and foreign investors.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=526611&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Neo]

February 10, 2007
Bhasha dam in seismic zone, says minister

ISLAMABAD, Feb 9: Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Jatoi on Friday informed the National Assembly that the Diamer-Bhasha dam was located in the seismic zone — at the boundary of the Asian tectonic plates.

In a written reply to a question of People’s Party Parliamentarians MNA Abdul Ghani Talpur, the minister said a micro-seismic network was being established by the Water and Power Development Authority to monitor the seismic activity, specifically near the dam site, in addition to four “strong motion acceleronographs” which were already working to record earthquake in the area.

Initially, he said, feasibility consultants formulated a database, containing 863 instrumentally recorded earthquakes of magnitude four or greater in a radius of 200 kilometres of the project area during the period from 1927 to 2001. He said design consultants were establishing seismic parameters for safe design of the project.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/02/10/top6.htm

 

[Neo]

World Bank cautions against go-slow towards dams

ISLAMABAD (February 12 2007): The World Bank's visiting team has cautioned that Pakistan's go-slow policy for construction of the new water reserviours could threaten the country's very survival. The delegation, headed by World Bank senior advisor on water and other related issues, David R.C. Grey, held detailed discussions with the officials on 'The future progress in water sector including implementation of water country strategy and note on Indus 21'.

The delegation came to Pakistan on February 7 and held detailed discussions with the officials of the Ministry of Water and Power, Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Ministry of Finance and Advisor to Prime Minister Dr Salman Shah till February 10.

Sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that the World Bank delegation presented the strategy paper to the officials during the meetings, which covered Pakistan's key issues relating to water. These in particular included the quickly shrinking water availability to farms; wastage of water and its improper utilisation; poor distribution system; and construction of the new big water reserviours.

Sources said that the officials presented details of the steps taken by the government for improvement in water utilisation and construction of new dams. The delegation was also given a comprehensive briefing on five mega dams under process for construction to increase water storage capacity to an optimal level.

The strategy paper also covers challenges confronting Pakistan as far as construction of mega dams, including Kalabagh and Basha dams.

They said that the delegation wanted implementation of the country's water strategy as a whole to help Pakistan address its water related issues.

The strategy said that Pakistan is an arid country. The balance between population and available water already makes Pakistan one of the most waterstressed countries of the world. It said that with rapid population growth it would soon enter a condition of absolute water scarcity. In the cultivable plains, rainfall ranges from about 500 mm a year along the Punjab border with India (which receives some rainfall from the summer monsoon) to only 100 mm a year in the western parts of Pakistan. These low precipitation levels mean that rain-fed, or barani, agriculture is not possible on a large scale in Pakistan.

Throughout history, people have adapted to the low and poorly distributed rainfall by either living along the river banks or by careful husbanding and management of local water resources. One of the greatest of human civilisations - the Indus Valley (Mohenjodaro and Harappa) civilisation flourished along the banks of the Indus. But, under natural conditions, population densities were necessarily low.

It counted challenges confronted by Pakistan and said that the first challenge for Pakistan is a political challenge which arose because the hastily-drawn lines of Partition severed the irrigated heartland of Punjab from the life-giving waters of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers (Figure).

The second challenge is a hydraulic challenge, because there is now a mismatch between the location of Pakistan's water (from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, the so-called western rivers) with the areas that had previously been irrigated from the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej (which are now 'India's rivers').

The third challenge is neither political nor hydraulic, but ecological. It is this last reality which gives rise to the third major water challenge which Pakistan has to face at and after Independence. Hundreds of billions of cubic metres water is now stored in the naturally-deep aquifers of Punjab alone. The groundwater table rose dramatically and in many areas water tables now reach the level of the land. And, these waters are rich in salts, which have been absorbed from the soil. After the water evaporated, the land is covered with a crispy layer of life-suppressing salt.

In the early 1960s it appeared that Pakistan was doomed, ironically, to a watery, salty grave. It added that the response of public and infrastructure partition both created Pakistan and did it in such a way that the very survival of the country was put in jeopardy.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=527623&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Neo]

February 12, 2007

‘WB expert bases dam decision on technical points’

WASHINGTON, Feb 11: The World Bank-appointed neutral expert for the Baglihar dam dispute between India and Pakistan has based his report solely on technical points, official sources told Dawn.

In the process, he rejects some of the points raised by both India and Pakistan. For instance, he rejects Islamabad’s demand that the spillway on the site should remain un-gated. Prof Raymond Lafitte, a Swiss expert who is expected to announce his report on Monday, also rejects several key elements of the original design India submitted to him.

In a draft report he showed to Indian and Pakistani experts in Washington in November last year, Mr Lafitte urged India to re-design the dam, reduce its height and construct a parapet around it. He also wants the sill height of the turbine installations to be increased.

Indian officials had strongly objected to his suggestions saying that such redesigning could only be done at a considerable cost that may make the project unviable. They had asked him to reconsider his proposals.

Pakistan also had some objections to the initial report and had conveyed them to Mr Laffite.

Official sources said the report observes that 89 per cent of all modern dam structures with a designed discharge of 14,000 cubic metres per second have gated spillways.

The report suggests that the chute spillway with a crest level of 821 metres should be placed at the highest level. He believes that five gates placed at 808 metres serve as outlets to evacuate sediment but he also advises Pakistan and India to draw a mechanism to resolve the issue of silt deposits.

On other technical issues, however, Prof Lafitte supports the Pakistani position. He determines that the 4.5-meter freeboard India had proposed is excessive and urges New Delhi to reduce it to 3 metres above the full power level. He also suggests fixing the dam’s crest elevation at 843 metres.

Mr Laffite also proposes that a 1.2-metre high parapet wall be placed on the dam’s crest to provide additional safety in case of future reassessment of hydrological construction.

Prof Lafitte last met Indian and Pakistani representatives in Washington from Nov 7-9. He discussed some points with them, advising Islamabad and New Delhi to send their feed backs to him before he finalises the report.

Mr Lafitte is a Swiss civil engineer and professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. The bank appointed him a neutral expert to resolve the dispute on May 10, 2005. Both India and Pakistan are obliged to accept his findings.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/02/12/top2.htm

 

[Neo]

February 12, 2007
Cost of building water reservoirs

By Rasheed Channa

THE Planning Commission of Pakistan claims to have brokered a consensus report prepared by a high-level committee constituted under the secretary, ministry of water & power on major water reservoirs, including Kalabagh dam. In the joint post CDWP press briefing on Jan 27 the spokesmen for the commission, in reply to a question, admitted that some minor irritants were raised by some provinces which they hoped would be resolved in due course of time.

Without knowing the contents of such an enigmatic report presented to the Central Development Party (CDWP), when senior level officers of other ministries and provinces present in the said meeting, were reportedly shown the door out, some section of the press carried common perceptions of the lower riparian Sindh and NWFP provinces. The Technical Committee on water resources appointed by President Musharraf under its Chairman A.N.G. Abbasi submitted its report in August 2005.

No matter, how the policy makers circumvent the truth unfolded under both reports, the president, as well his associates could not shy away with the single most factor e.g. availability of water in the Indus system. In this regard for those who may not have read the Technical Committee Report as yet, must bear in mind that not to speak of water for any new dam; we are still short by 14 million acre feet (MAF) for the existing uses under the prevalent Water Accord of 1991. The water calculations made in the report are based on the data provided not only by the members of the Technical Committee, but also the Wapda – the linchpin in bringing series of miseries to the lower riparian Sindh.

The truth about much trumpeted 35 MAF water going into sea as waste is that the data of Indus River flow shows that out of 27 years, the down stream Kotri escapages were recorded for only 11 years. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) during last summer floods (2006) had categorically held that “20 MAF flows downstream Kotri during the season should not be treated as waste”. Independent experts suggest that environmentally and otherwise these were essential on two counts. First, Water Accord of 1991 provides 10 MAF water flows down Kotri Barrage, but unfortunately 150 km long river course down Kotri, covering four districts of Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Badin and Thatta did not receive a single drop for the 2/3rd period affecting the agriculture, fisheries even drinking water needs etc, of that vast area. Second, the long awaited technical study by international expert mandated under Water Accord 1991 has established the requirements of 6.8 MAF flows down stream Kotri with flows of four MAF all the time.

Unfortunately, the president himself has now started talking about the “majority wanting Kalabagh” ignoring half a dozen resolutions passed by the provincial assemblies against the construction of that dam. For the people of Sindh and its succeeding generations, the Kalabagh dam is the question of life and death, because the Sindhis foresee hunger, abject poverty ahead due to lesser water flows.

The other irritants every one living in Sindh shares equally are the importance of filling criteria of dams keeping in view the cropping pattern of the provinces beside operation and regulation of such costly ventures so as to avoid the prevalent manipulation of flood as well as regular flows in the system.

The CDWP announcement also mentions about the Task Force under Syed Salman Shah, advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, to explore financing as well funding requirements of the large dams estimated to cost $17 billion or Rs1 trillion at the conversion rate of Rs61 per dollar.

The assigned hunt for money could be seen in the context of current Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2006-07) level, which has an outlay of Rs275 billion and with the total cost of water sector projects, being Rs356.486 billion and the current years allocation level of Rs 47.749 billion, the water projects in hand are going to be completed in five years i.e. by 2012-13, provided there are no cost over runs, the phenomenon very common to WAPDA projects and that no new projects are undertaken, which seems to be just out of question.

Take the Kalabagh dam alone, it is now estimated to cost Rs373.564 billion or $6.124 billion, including foreign exchange component equivalent to Rs171.593 billion or $2.813 billion. Where as, according to project planning report of KB dam consultants prepared in 1987, the cost was estimated at Rs466.894 billion or $7.654 billion understandably some components might have been changed by now. Moreover, if we account for dollar-rupee parity (1 USD to 61 PKR) and the cost of escalations since 1987 estimations, the Kalabagh dam alone is going to cost the nation in the vicinity of over a Rs1 trillion, i.e. $17.073 billion.

John Briscoe, Senior Advisor World Bank, while presenting WB’s 2005 Water Strategy for Pakistan Dams, estimated the cost at $15 billion or Rs915 billion. Put together, for the president’s Water Vision Rs3-4 trillion are to be lined up if the construction of all five dams is to be completed by 2016. This all seems to be too ambitious when PSDP is targeted to the level of Rs2.5 trillion by year 2010 under MTDF. It will, however, be a billion dollar question how much of it will be devoured by the executing agencies in a country recently ranked upwards at 144 corrupt by the Transparency International.

The International River’s Network, an independent organisation, has suggested some viable alternatives. It says that brick-and-mortar investments in the centrally managed dams were not the only way to address Pakistan’s water related needs, but, the conservation and plugging the leaks in the system, including, end to bureaucratic manipulations and corruption. To substantiate further World Bank evaluation found in 1996 suggests that water conservation measures save more water than largest new dams in Pakistan’s investment programme could have stored, and at 1/5th of the cost. Similarly, Asian Development Bank estimates that and additional 4.7 MAF water could be provided either by conservation measures at a cost of $1.7 billion or by new dam with a price tag of $4.5 billion.

In the end, one could only expect that the president should push ahead his on-going water conservation plan by accelerating the lining of water courses, channels and distributaries in the country, costing over Rs100 billion, which can always be increased, rather than creating rubbles in the already charged atmosphere with the fresh elections in sight, as the nation could hardly afford any social tensions and conflict.

http://www.dawn.com/2007/02/12/ebr5.htm

 

[Neo]

Thursday, March 01, 2007

‘Water management the biggest challenge’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Wednesday said a coherent strategy is needed to deal with the issues of water, democracy, migration and global poverty.

“The clock is ticking. As if poverty, hunger and diseases were not enough to haunt the world, water scarcity and pollution are now adding to our woes, demanding immediate attention,” Aziz said while opening the first session of the 13th General Assembly of Asia Pacific Parliamentarians Conference on Environment and Development (APPCED). Delegates from twenty countries participated in the conference, in which water issues and suggestions to tackle the challenges of water conservation and environment protection were specially discussed.

The conference aims to continue global efforts to achieve sustainable development, proper utilization of natural resources, reduction in environmental pollution and maintenance of ecological balance in Asia Pacific.

The prime minister said proper management and integration of water projects in the framework of overall national economic and social policies could ameliorate the deterioration of water resources. He said there was a need to shift from segmented to the integrated approach to manage the water resources.

He said environment and development were among the most critical issues and the building of a world where goals of environmental conservation and economic development did not conflict with each other was the biggest challenge. He said climate change, clean energy, sustainable transport, public healthcare, better management of water resources and global poverty were the challenges that could only be met with concerted efforts of the international community. Aziz said governments, private sector and society should harmonize their efforts and market forces should play a critical role in changing consumer and producer behaviour to meet these challenges.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\01\story_1-3-2007_pg5_6

 

[Neo]

Progress on hydropower projects reviewed

LAHORE (March 03 2007): The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) would strive hard to complete all its projects both in water and power sectors on time, as this is of utmost importance particularly in the wake of shortage of water and power in the country.

This was stated by Chairman Wapda, Tariq Hamid while presiding over a progress review meeting of Water Wing here on Friday, disclose a spokesman of Wapda. Emphasising the need of timely completion of various water projects, the chairman said that a number of these projects would serve the dual purpose of irrigating agriculture lands, on the one hand and generating electricity on the other.

The meeting reviewed the progress in implementation of various projects, including Sabakzai Dam, Rainee Canal, Greater Thal Canal, Kachhi Canal, Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) I and III, and Khan Khawar, Allai Khawar, Duber Khawar hydropower projects. It was noted with satisfaction that most of these projects are being implemented at the scheduled pace and are expected to be completed as per target dates.

It is pertinent to mention that after the successful completion of Mirani Dam on November 6, 2006, another mega project in Balochistan, ie Sabkazai Dam has been started. This dam along with Kacchi Canal and Mirani Dam would contribute significantly in the economic uplift of the province of Balochistan.

Two other main projects, ie Rainee Canal and RBOD I and III would add significantly to the development of agriculture in Sindh thus making the economic condition of farmers better. The meeting also reviewed the progress of other hydropower projects, including Satpara Dam, Diamer Basah Dam, Mangla Raising, Gomal Zam Dam and Golen Gole (Chitral).

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=534379&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Neo]

Water alarm bells

The findings of a report prepared by the World Wildlife Fund titled "Pakistan's waters at risk" should serve as a wakeup call for both the government and citizens alike. The report, which has also been endorsed by six NGOS, says in an unequivocal manner that the county's water resources are drying up, thanks mainly to a complete lack of a conservation strategy, coupled with increasing pollution and contamination. While this has always been a lingering problem for Pakistan, it seems, judging by the tone of the report, that action on this front will have to be taken sooner rather than later. For starters, a concerted effort has to be made to move towards a more efficient system of management and conservation of water resources, both from the point of view of commercial and domestic users. The government should seriously examine the possibility of installing water meters in the country so that people are charged for what they use, as opposed to the current system where they pay a flat rate for the whole year. Having water meters -- the norm in the developed world -- is likely to bring in greater precaution and care in the use of water and will discourage wasteful utilisation.

As for pollution, the presence of traces of arsenic in the country's water supply and the outright contamination that takes place when untreated effluent is released into rivers and/or lakes are major issues that need to be dealt with. Both have the potential of developing into public health hazards, and in fact in the case of the latter, dozens of deaths have already occurred in recent years. Also, it needs to be remembered that waterborne diseases are the leading cause of death among young children in the country -- so without doubt we and our future generations are paying a very heavy price for failing to keep our water clean. Of course, while all of this may not be a revelation, what the report is saying does underline the need for prompt action. Apart from industrial and domestic effluent, water bodies are also contaminated by the widespread use of pesticides and an acute shortage of latrines in the rural areas. The latter point will only be taken care of with increasing modernisation and rising income levels since building a latrine in a rural community is often a function of socio-economic indicators such as education and income levels.

Pollution goes unchecked mainly because the ministry of environment and, particularly, the federal and the provincial environmental protection agencies have not carried out their responsibilities. The fact of the matter is that enough legislation exists on the statute books to effectively counter rising pollution but -- as seems to be the case with just about every law in the country -- it is not enforced. For instance, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997 sets clear limits for water pollution but these have never been enforced. In fact, instead of clamping down on industrial and commercial polluters, the government took a very soft approach and introduced a system of 'self-monitoring' under which polluting industries were asked to pay a fine based on an estimate of the amount of pollution they had been responsible for. Obviously, such a flawed system was going to fail -- which it did – since it amounted to asking a law-breaker to arrest, prosecute and sentence himself. Nothing followed after this 'self-monitoring' mechanism -- the only sign of any movement on this front being the recent establishment of a water-treatment plant at some tanneries in Kasur.

Pakistan is a signatory to the Millennium Development Goals, which, among other things, aim to improve drinking-water resources. More importantly, this implies a commitment and responsibility to its own people to provide them with adequate supplies of clean drinking water, something that no government has been able to do in the 60 or so years of its existence. Already about a quarter of a million children die from waterborne diseases -- how much higher will this number have to go before the government takes decisive action on this front?

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=45215

 

[Neo]

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Neelam-Jhelum project contract awarded

ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting here on Wednesday was informed that all formalities on the progress and pace of work on Neelam-Jhelum project were satisfactory, and the authority has approved award to lowest bidder at the contract price of Rs 90.88 billion.

Federal Water and Power Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi, while chairing a high-level meeting, convened to review the progress of the work of these mega water projects, has directed Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to speed up its work on mega water projects, including Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, Diamir-Bhasha Dam, Kurram Tangi Dam, Sabakzai Dam and Kachi Canal. He stressed the need to quickly compete the formalities and start the construction work as soon as possible. He asked WAPDA that all technical and feasible suggestions of stakeholders be considered on the construction of mega water projects.

In a detailed presentation, Member (Water), WAPDA informed the minister about the progress of these projects. The meeting was informed that all formalities about the progress and pace of work on Neelam Jhelum project was satisfactory and the authority had approved award to lowest bidder at the contract price of Rs 90.88 billion, the meeting was informed.

The meeting was also apprised about the progress of the work of Diamir Bhasha Dam. It was informed that the project is in stage of detailed engineering design, which will be completed by March 2008.

Feasibility stage-I has been completed while under construction hostel and laboratory to be completed by May 2007. The Vocational! Training Institute, Chillas has been established and classes have been started by hiring three instructors, the meeting was informed.

It was also informed that the construction work of Thakot Bridge has already been commenced, and the progress on Kurram-Tangi Dam was also discussed.

The progress of Kachi Canal also came under discussion and WAPDA informed the meeting that work on this project is on schedule and it would be completed in the targeted time, which is Dec 2008. The meeting was also informed that work on Subak-Zai Dam in Balochistan would be completed in April, 2007 at a cost of Rs 1.576 billion. The minister emphasised that there should be no compromise on the quality of work when under taking the fast track projects.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\15\story_15-3-2007_pg5_4

 

[Janbaz]

Irrigation seeks Rs 5b for projects

OUR STAFF REPORTER
LAHORE - The irrigation department Punjab is seeking approximately Rs 5 billion for key projects under the head of the foreign funded projects for next financial year 2007-08.
According to the abstract to be discussed and finalized by the Planning and Development Department Punjab, the major projects identified for funding are Lower Bari Doab rehabilitation, Chashma Right Bank Canal hill torrent management projects and Taunsa Barrage rehabilitation.
The department has sought Rs 2.545 billion for the LBDC rehab project while Rs 2.905 billion have been sought for the Taunsa Rehabilitation project. For these three projects in the CRBC hill torrent management job, a total amount of Rs 2 billion has been sought with Rs 1.5 billion for CRBC hill torrent stage 3.
It may be mentioned here that the foreign funded project almost account for more than 50 per cent of the current financial year 2006-07 allocation of Rs 8.5 billion and almost half of the anticipated ADP in 2007-08 according to the Mid Term Budgetary Framework prepared for the irrigation department that sets the allocation at Rs 12b.

The Nation.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/mar-2007/16/bnews4.php

 

[Janbaz]

CDWP may approve Sindh water project

Will take up 43 projects worth Rs108bn

By Khalid Mustafa

ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) is likely to approve about 43 projects in its meeting on March 20 valuing over Rs108 billion including most important project of Sindh Water Sector Improvement Project at the cost of Rs10.675 billion.

The CDWP is the forum that has the mandate to approve the project of worth Rs500 million and can recommend the project to ECNEC valuing over Rs500 million for approval.

As per the agenda available with The News, in water sector, the CDWP meeting will take up 8 projects valuing Rs11.954 billion, out of which it would recommend two projects to ECNEC for approval that include Sindh Water Sector Improvement project of Rs10.675 billion and Towiwar storage dam at Killa Saifulla with the cost of Rs2.351 billion.

However, CDWP is likely to approve remaining 6 projects that include cement concrete lining along Sehri Minor, Dhoro Minor and Diplo Minor; rehabilitation of banks of Mithrao canal RD 240 to RD 382; remedial measure for DANA Sadoori Irrigation scheme on Polalai River Lasbela; Chashma Right Bank Irrigation project remedial measures in NWFP portion CBRC stage-III; Construction of Kair Bara dam District Haripur and Construction of Jabba Khattak Dam district Nowshera. In environment sector, the meeting will take up the project of Clean Drinking Water for All valuing Rs15.843 billion with revised PC-1 and it is likely that the meeting will recommend it to ECNEC for approval. In transport and communication sector, the meeting will take up 6 projects valuing Rs15.370 billion, out of which it would recommend to ECNEC the four projects for approval that include Rehabilitation & Improvement of 124 km DI Khan Mughalkot road (N-50), improvement & construction of Jalkand Chilas road project, construction of Fish Landing Jetty and Allied Harbour facilities at SurbandaróEast Bay Gwadar and construction of Fish Landing Jetty and Allied Harbour facilities at PishukanóEast Bay Gwadar.

The meeting is also likely to approve two projects that include construction of metalled road Tarkoo Adda Kharkhan road to Basti Yasmenn Na-181 and expansion of 700 Rft bridge on Nihing River on Zubaida Jalal road. The CDWP, in Agriculture and Food sector, will also approve the project of PAEC about the production of bio energy from plant biomass that will cost Rs295.545 million.

In addition, the meeting is also likely to approve two projects valuing Rs59.579 million in IMU sector, two projects of Rs653 million in manpower sector, two projects of Rs39.994 million in health sector, 3 projects of Rs650.058 million in physical planning and housing, 2 projects of Rs414.714 million in education sector, 6 projects of Rs4.444 billion in industries & commerce, 3 projects of Rs1.049 billion in Science & Technology and one project of Rs202.203 million in Higher Education Commission.

The News.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=47013

 

[Neo]

Good move!
Of all provinces Sindh faces the biggest threat of desertification due very low rain fall in Thar Desert which is already moving westwards.

It still not too late, the land can be irrigated and made fertile the way we've done it in southern Bhawalpur.

 

[Janbaz]

Good move!
Of all provinces Sindh faces the biggest threat of desertification due very low rain fall in Thar Desert which is already moving westwards.

It still not too late, the land can be irrigated and made fertile the way we've done it in southern Bhawalpur.

For sure, and the western region areas that lie in that part are also badly irrigated. In geography class we were discussing growing deserts and my teacher provided 3 classical examples:

1: Sahara in the Sahel region.
2: Gobi in inner Mongolia.
3: Thar-Chloistan in the Sind and Rajhastan.

Alongside this we have to modify our practices, stop wastage and conserve. That is the only way that will cancel our wrong doings with this of nature's many givings!

 

[Neo]

For sure, and the western region areas that lie in that part are also badly irrigated. In geography class we were discussing growing deserts and my teacher provided 3 classical examples:

1: Sahara in the Sahel region.
2: Gobi in inner Mongolia.
3: Thar-Chloistan in the Sind and Rajhastan.

Sahara and Gobi are already full eroded, there isn't much you can do to change the landscape there but like I said it's still not too late for Thar-Cholistan region which receives good amount of monsoon rain once in (average) every three years.

Alongside this we have to modify our practices, stop wastage and conserve. That is the only way that will cancel our wrong doings with this of nature's many givings!

Exactly and thats all the vision 2015 is about, conserving water and building new reservoirs to irrigate and cultivate barren land.

Basically we receive enough water thru rain, rivers and Himalaya's but much of it is lost into the sea since we've get flooded in during the monsson and face water shortage in the winter.

New reservoirs and a good network of cannals should keep this water from flowing right into the sea and be used for irrigation.

A man made water reservoire in Balochistan (I forgot the name :s) recently changed the landscape, thousands of acres of dry and improductive land is now being prepared for cultivation. The water is coming from melting snow is Quetta and Ziarat region. Same can be applied in many dry regions where rainfall is scarse.

If this projects works out well more will follow.